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The Young People's 

limitation of Christ 



Based upon the Work of 
Thomas a >Kempis 



By Edward S. Ellis, A, M. 



id 1 ! 

rtpl 



PHILADELPHIA 

Gbe (Btiffitb & IRowlanD iprees 
1905 



LiBRASYof CONGRESS 
Iwu Copies rtoceived 

MAR 6 1^05 
Gopyrigat tntry 

OUiSS A^ XAC Nos 

COPY B. 



, £5 



Copyright 1905 by the 
American Baptist Publication Society 



Published February, 1905 



ffrom tbe Society's own ipress 



Thomas a Kempis' " Imitation of 
Christ" is one of the most helpful 
works ever written by human pen. It 
has encouraged and sustained untold 
multitudes struggling toward the Light, 
and many scholars and theologians rank 
it second only in that respect to the holy 
Bible itself. 

I have asked myself whether this pre- 
cious volume could, without sacrifice of 
its luminous sweetness and almost divine 
effulgence, be so simplified in its lan- 
guage as to bring it within the easy un- 
derstanding of the young, those who 
need such sustenance in the springtime 
of conversion, when their tender feel- 
ings and sympathies are readily swayed. 
With many misgivings and after much 
meditation I have reverently made the 
attempt to perform this task, conscious 
that if I fail my motive has been pure. 

e. s. E. 

Montclair, December i, 1904. 



The First Book 

Admonitions Useful for a 
Spiritual Life 



CHAPTER I 

Of the Imitation of Christ and Contempt of 
all the Inanities of the World 

Hf^E that followeth me, walketh not in 
darkness," ^aith the Lord. These 
are the words of Christ, which 
teach us to act as he did if we would be 
truly wise and freed from all blindness of 
heart. Let us try, therefore, to study the 
life of Jesus Christ. 

2. The teaching of Christ is better than 
the teachings of holy men ; and if we seek 
with a humble, earnest heart we shall 
find all the truth that is in his words. 

There are many who often hear the 
gospel of Christ but care nothing for 
it, because they have not the spirit of 
Christ. Whoever, then, would fully un- 
derstand the words of Christ, must try to 
make his life wholly like the life of Christ. 

1 John 8 : 12. 



4 Christ and Vanities of the World 

3. What good will it do you to study 
the arguments about the Trinity if you 
are not humble, and thus displease the 
Trinity ? 

High-sounding words cannot make a 
man holy, but a godly life makes him 
dear to God. I would rather feel the 
pricking of conscience than to be told the 
meaning of the word. 

If you knew the whole Bible by heart 
and the sayings of all the wise men, 
what good would it do you without 
the love of God 1 in your heart? One 
of the wisest of men said that all is 
vanity 2 or foolishness, except to love 
and serve God. 

The greatest of all wisdom is to make 
sure of the kingdom of heaven by caring 
nothing for the world. 

4, It is, therefore, foolish to seek after 
honors or to follow the desires of the 
flesh and to labor for that which is sure 
to bring sore punishment. 

It is foolish to wish to live long rather 
than care to live well. 

1 1 Cor. 13 : 2. 2 Eccl. 1 : 2. 



Thinking Humbly of Ourselves 



It is foolish to care only for our present 
life and not to prepare for the life which 
is to come. 

It is foolish to love that which soon 
passes away instead of wishing to has- 
ten to the world-where everlasting joy 
awaits us. 

5. Think often of the proverb, "The 
eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the 
ear filled with hearing." 1 Try, there- 
fore, to keep your heart from the love of 
worldly things and to turn yourself to 
those things that will never end. For 
they that follow their worldly desires 
lose the love of God. 



CHAPTER II 
Of Thinking Humbly of Ourselves 

T^lfypE all wish to gain knowledge; 2 
%W\\/| but what good will knowledge 

r4prj do us if we do not fear God ? 
The humblest person who serves God 
is better than the proudest man who 

1 Eccl. 1:8. 2 Eccl. 1:13; Arist., " Met." I., 1. 



Thinking Humbly of Ourselves 



not fearing God studies the wonders 
of the heavens. If you know your- 
self, you will be humble in your own 
eyes and care nothing for the praises 
of others. 

If I understood everything in the 
world, and had not love, how would it 
benefit me in the sight of God, who will 
judge me according to my deeds ? 

2. Give up that desire for knowledge 
which is so eager that it does not allow 
you to think of anything else. Those 
who have much learning love to have 
others call them wise. 

There are many things the knowledge 
of which does little or no good to the 
soul. And you are very unwise if you 
think more of such things than those 
that will help the soul. 

No words of themselves can satisfy 
the soul ; but a good life comforts the 
mind, and a pure conscience gives great 
faith in God. 

3. The more you know and the better 
you understand, the more you will be 
condemned if you do not lead a holy life. 



Thinking Humbly of Ourselves 



Take care therefore not to feel proud 
because of any knowledge, but rather 
let such knowledge make you afraid. 
If you think you understand and know 
much, remember that there are many 
more things of which you know nothing. 
Do not try to appear overwise, but rather 
confess your ignorance. 1 Why should 
you -try to appear wise when there are 
many who know far more than you and 
have a much greater knowledge in the 
Scriptures ? If you would be profited by 
learning, be meek and humble in your 
knowledge. 

4. The highest and most profitable 
lesson is the true knowledge and hum- 
ble opinion of ourselves. It is perfect 
wisdom to think nothing of ourselves 
and always to think highly of others. 
If you should see another openly sin or 
commit some grave offense, do not think 
any better of yourself ; for you know 
not how long you shall be able to stand. 
We are all frail, 2 but do not think any- 
one more frail than yourself. 

1 Rom. 12 : 16. 2 Gen. 8 : 21. 



The Doctrine of Truth 



CHAPTER III 

Of the Doctrine of Truth 

[^APPY is he who is taught by truth 
itself. 1 

We are often deceived by our 
own opinion and our own senses, which 
know but little. 

Of what use is it to dispute over hidden 
things, for ignorance of which we shall 
not be blamed at the day of judgment ? 

It is a great folly to neglect the things 
that we need to know, and to dwell upon 
those which are curious and hurtful. We 
have eyes and see not. 2 

2. What have we to do with genera 
and species? He who listens to the Eter- 
nal Word is not required to form an 
opinion on other subjects. 

From one Word are all things, and all 
things utter one Word ; and this is the 
Beginning which also speaks unto us. 

No one can understand or judge rightly 
without that Word. 

1 Ps. 94 : i2. 2 Eccl. 3 : 9-11 ; Ps. 115 : 5. 



The Doctrine of Truth 



He to whom all things are the Word, 
who reduces all things to that Word, and 
sees all things in that Word, will enjoy a 
quiet mind and remain at peace in God. 

O God, who art the truth, make me 
one with thee in everlasting love. I am 
often wearied with reading and hearing 
many things ; in thee is all that I would 
have and can desire. Let all the learned 
keep still ; let all creatures be silent in 
thy sight ; speak thou alone unto me. 

3. The more I am one within myself 
and become of single heart, so much the 
more will I understand higher things 
without labor ; for I shall receive the 
light of wisdom from above. 1 

A pure, single, and fixed spirit is not 
disturbed even when engaged in many 
works ; for it does all to the honor of 
God, and being at rest within seeks no 
selfish purpose in anything it does. Who 
hinders and troubles you more than do 
the worldly desires of your own heart ? 

A good and devout person arranges 
within himself beforehand those things 

1 Matt. 11 : 25 ; Luke 10 : 21. 



io The Doctrine of Truth 

which he ought to do. They do not 
draw him to his worldly desires, but he 
orders them according to right reason. 

What harder fight is there than to 
overcome yourself ? Try, therefore, with 
all your might to conquer yourself and 
to grow stronger daily and to grow in 
holiness. 

4. All perfection in this life has some 
imperfection mixed with it ; and the 
greatest knowledge we can gain has 
some darkness. A humble knowledge 
of yourself is a surer way to God than a 
deep search after learning. Learning 
however is good of itself and God com- 
mends it ; but a good conscience and a 
virtuous life are always to be preferred 
before it. 

But because many seek knowledge in 
preference to living well they deceive 
themselves and reap little or no fruit. 

5. Oh, if we gave as much labor to 
the rooting out of vices and the planting 
of virtues as we do to worldly questions, 
there would be fewer evils done and less 
scandal given in the world. 



The Doctrine of Truth 1 1 

In the great day of judgment we shall 
not be examined as to what we have 
read, but as to what we have done; 1 
not as to how well we have spoken, but 
as to how religiously we have lived. 

Tell me, where are all those learned 
men with whom you were well ac- 
quainted when they lived and were 
proud of their learning ? Others have 
their places and probably never think of 
them. In their lifetime they were fa- 
mous, but now they are forgotten. 

6. Oh, how quickly the glory of the 
world passes away ! 2 Would that their 
learning had taught them to live aright ! 
Then their study and reading would have 
been to good purpose. How many per- 
ish because of vain learning 3 who care 
little for serving God ! Because they 
chose to be great rather than humble 
they became vain in their imaginations. 4 
He is truly great who has great love. He 
is truly great who cares nothing for him- 
self and has no wish for worldly honor. 

1 Matt. 25. 2 Titus 1 : 10. 3 Rom. 1 : 21. 

4 Matt. 18 : 4; 23 : 11. 



12 Wisdom and Forethought 

He is truly wise who considers all 
earthly things as nothing, that he may 
win Christ. 1 And he is truly learned 
who does the will of God and forsakes 
his own will. 



CHAPTER IV 

Of Wisdom and Forethought in 
Our Actions 

3T^|pE must not believe everything 

wwB" sa *^ to us>2 ' 3ut ^ irst ma ^ e sure 
t^l^H whether it is pleasing to God. 

Sad to say, we are so weak that we 
often prefer to believe and speak evil of 
others rather than good. 

Perfect men are not quick to believe 
every one who speaks to them ; for they 
know that human weakness is inclined 
to evil 3 and very likely to speak words 
of error. 4 

2. It is great wisdom not to be rash in 
your doings, 5 nor to be fixed in your 

1 Phil. 3:8. 2 1 John 4:1. 3 Gen. 8 : 21. 

4 James 3:2. 5 Prov. iq : 2 



Reading the Scriptures 13 

own conceits ; nor to believe everything 
you hear, nor immediately to tell to 
others 1 what you have heard or what 
you believe. 

Ask the advice of those who are wise 
and of sound judgment, and try to be 
instructed by one better than yourself, 
rather than to follow your own ideas. 2 

A good life makes one wise according 
to God, 3 and gives him experience in 
many things. 4 The more humble you 
are and the more obedient unto God, 
the more wise and peaceful you will be 
in all things. 

CHAPTER V 
Of Reading the Holy Scriptures 

f^EEK truth and not eloquence in 
j| holy Scripture. 
' I *5jp Each part of the Scriptures is to 
be read with the same spirit that it was 
written. 5 Seek for profit in the Scrip- 

1 Prov. 17 : 9. 2 Prov. 12 : 15. 3 Prov. 15 : 33. 
4 Eccl. 1 : 16. 5 Rom. 15 : 4. 



14 Reading the Scriptures 

tures rather than deep reasoning. You 
should be as willing to read plain and 
religious books as those that are high 
and profound. 

Do not give too much weight to the 
authority of the writer, but read for the 
purpose of learning the pure truth. 1 Ask 
not who spoke this or that, but note what 
is spoken. 

2. All of us must die and pass away, 
but the truth of the Lord remains for- 
ever. 2 God speaks unto us in different 
ways, without regard to persons. 3 

Our own curiosity often hinders us in 
reading the Scriptures, when we pause 
and discuss matters which we should 
rather pass over without discussion. If 
you wish to read with profit, do so hum- 
bly, simply, and faithfully; and have no 
desire to appear learned. Ask willingly 
and listen in silence to the words of holy 
men. Do not be displeased by any par- 
ables to which you listen, for they are 
given with good cause. 4 

1 i Cor. 2:4. 2 Ps. 117 : 2 ; Luke 21 : 33. 

8 Rom. 2:11; 10 : 12 ; Col. 3 : 11. 4 Prov. 1:6; Eccl. 12 : 9. 



Inordinate Affections 1 5 

CHAPTER VI 
Of Inordinate Affections 

rfFjHENEVER you desire anything 

/ = \r too eagerly, you become impa- 
ct tient and dissatisfied. Those 
who are proud and covetous are never 
at rest. The poor and humble in spirit 
have peace within. 

Until you are perfect master of your- 
self, you will be easily tempted and give 
way in small and trifling things. 

He who is fond of indulging himself 
finds it hard to control his earthly desires. 
He often fails, therefore, when he tries to 
control these desires, and becomes angry 
when any one opposes him. 

2. If he gives way to his desires he is 
soon filled with remorse, for he has 
yielded to temptation which profited, him 
nothing and driven away the peace of 
mind which he sought. 

True peace of heart therefore is ob- 
tained by resisting our passions, not by 
obeying them. There is no peace in the 



1 6 Vain Hope and Pride 

heart of the worldly person, nor in hin 
who is fond of outward show, but in the 
spiritual and devout man. 



CHAPTER VII 

Of Avoiding Vain Hope and Pride 

|^E is foolish who puts his trust in 
man. 1 

Do not be ashamed to serve 
others for the love of Jesus Christ ; nor 
to be thought poor in this world. 

Do not rely upon your own strength, 
but put all your hope in God. 2 

Do everything in your power and God 
will help you. 

Place no trust in your own knowledge 8 
nor in the skill of any one else ; but 
rather in the grace of God, who helps 
the humble and humbles those that are 
proud. 

2. If you have wealth or powerful 
friends, feel no pride in either ; but in 
God who gives all things and who desires 

1 Jer. 17 : 5. 2 Ps. 31 : i. 3 Jer. 9 : 23. 



Vain Hope and Pride 1 7 

above everything else to give himself to 
you. Feel no pride in yourself because 
of your pleasing figure or looks, for a 
little sickness may disfigure or destroy 
both. If you have natural gifts or wit, 
take no pride in them lest you displease 
God, to whom is due your thanks for all 
the good you have by nature. 

3. Never think yourself better than 
others, 1 for it may be that in the sight of 
God, who reads all hearts, you are worse 
than they. 

Do not be proud of your good deeds, 2 
for God does not judge as men, and 
when you have pleased them it may be 
you have offended him. 

If there is any good in you, remember 
that there is much more in others, and 
thus you will remain humble. 

It injures you not to consider others ; 
but it injures you still more to consider 
yourself before even one other person. 
The humble enjoy continual peace, but 
in the heart of the proud is envy and 
often anger. 

1 Exod. 3:2. 2 Job 9 : 20. 

B 



1 8 Familiarity to be Shunned 

CHAPTER VIII 

That too much Familiarity is to 
be Shunned 

, JO not tell your secrets to every one ; 

lljj fr ut on 'y to *^ e w * se anc * suc ^ as 

fear God. 1 

Do not be too free with persons younger 
than yourself, nor with strangers. 2 

Never flatter the rich ; neither appear 
too humble before those of high rank. 

Make your companions those who are 
humble and single-hearted, those who 
rare devout and virtuous ; advise with 
them of those things that may improve. 

Be respectful to all women, and com- 
mend all good women in general to God. 

Desire to be familiar with God alone, 
and his angels, and avoid such familiarity 
with those of your own age. 

2. We must love every one, but it is 
not best to be familiar with all. 

It sometimes happens that a person 
whom we do not know is held in high 

1 Eccl. 8 : i2. 2 Prov. 5 : 10. 



Obedience and Subjection 19 

esteem because of the good reports of 
others, yet his presence is not pleasing 
to those who meet him. 

We sometimes think we can please 
others by our society, but instead we 
displease them by the bad qualities which 
they discover in us. 



CHAPTER IX 
Of Obedience and Subjection 

T is highly useful to live in obedience, 
to be directed by one who is superior, 
*fs* and not to follow our own will. It is 
much safer to obey than to govern. 

Many live under obedience because 
they cannot help it ; such repine and are 
discontented. They cannot attain to 
freedom of mind unless they heartily 
obey because of their love of God. 

Go where you will, you will find no 
rest except in humble subjection under 
the government of a superior. Many 
have made the mistake of believing they 
would find happiness in change. 



20 Avoiding Many Words 

2. Every one is willing to . do that 
which agrees with his own desires, and 
he inclines most to those who think the 
same as he. But if we wish to please 
God we must sometimes, for the sake of 
peace, give up our own opinion. 

Do not be too proud therefore in your 
own opinion ; but be willing to listen to 
the judgment of others. If you give up 
any plan of your own for the sake of 
God, it shall result in your good. 

3. I have often heard that it is safer to 
hear and take advice than to give it. The 
opinion of another may be good ; but if we 
refuse to yield when reason commands it, 
it is a mark of pride and stubbornness. 

CHAPTER X 

Of Avoiding Many Words 

WKsEE? free from the tumult of the 
yfc world as much as you can ; for it 
is a great hindrance, although your 
intention may be honest. For we are 
quickly injured and captured by vanity. 



Avoiding Many Words 21 

I have often wished I had held my 
peace when I have spoken, and that I 
had not been so free with others. 

Why do we so willingly speak and 
talk with another, when we nearly 
always say something that hurts our 
conscience ? 

The reason why we talk so willingly 
is that we hope to comfort one another, 
and wish to ease our mind that is wearied 
with many thoughts. 

And we willingly talk and think of 
those things which we most love or desire; 
or of those things which distress us. 

2. But, alas, it is often in vain ; for 
such outward comfort robs us of inward 
and divine consolation. Therefore we 
must watch and pray lest our time go 
to waste. 1 

If it be wise for you to speak, speak 
those things that improve. 

Evil habit and neglect of our own 
growth and grace give too much freedom 
to unwise speech. Yet speech of spiritual 
things greatly helps our spiritual growth, 

1 Matt. 4:1; 14 : 23 ; John 6 : 15. 



22 Peace and Grace 



especially when those of one mind and 
spirit associate together in God. 1 



CHAPTER XI 

Of the Obtaining of Peace, and of the Zeal- 
ous Desire for Growth and Grace 

;E should enjoy much peace if we 
did not busy ourselves with the 
l^xpNH words and affairs of other per- 
sons, and with things which have noth- 
ing to do with ourselves. 

How can any one long have peace 
who busieth himself with the cares of 
others, who seeks such cares and seldom 
gives thoughts to his own ? Blessed are 
the single-hearted, for they shall enjoy 
much peace. 

2. We are too much led by our pas- 
sions, and too anxious about worldly 
things. We seldom overcome any one 
vice perfectly, and do not have a burning 
desire to grow better every day ; there- 
fore we remain lukewarm and cold. 

Acts i : 14; Rom. 15 : 5, 6. 



Peace and Grace 23 



3. If we were perfectly intent upon 
our own hearts and not entangled with 
worldly things, then we should be able 
to relish divine things, and to enjoy heav- 
enly contemplation. 

The greatest and indeed the whole 
obstacle is that we are not free from 
passions and lusts; and when some 
small misfortune comes to us we are 
too quickly depressed and turn to human 
consolations. 

4. If we would try like brave men to 
stand in the battle, surely we should 
feel the help of God from heaven. For 
he who gives us cause to fight, in order 
that we may gain victory, is ready to 
help those who fight and trust in his grace. 

If we think our progress in religious life 
consists only in some outward forms, our 
devotion will quickly come to an end. 

But let us lay the axe to the root, that 
being freed from passions we may find 
rest to our souls. 

5. If we should succeed every year in 
rooting out one vice, we should sooner 
become perfect. 



24 Peace and Grace 



But we often perceive, on the contrary, 
that we were better and purer at the be- 
ginning of our conversion than after many 
years of our profession. 

Our fervor and improvement should in- 
crease daily ; but it is often thought to 
be a great matter if one can keep some 
part of his first zeal. 

If we would be determined at the 
beginning, then we should be able to 
perform all things afterward with ease 
and delight. 

6. It is hard to give up that to which 
we are accustomed, but it is harder to 
go against our own will. 

But if you do not give up small and 
easy things, when will you overcome 
harder things ? Resist your inclination 
in the very beginning, and unlearn evil 
habits lest little by little they draw into 
greater difficulty. 

Oh, if you would but think how much 
inward peace unto yourself and joy unto 
others you would gain by acting well, I 
think you would be more careful of spir- 
itual progress. 



Profi t of Advers ity 2 5 

CHAPTER XII 

Of the Profit of Adversity 

|FT is good that we have sometimes some 
51 troubles and crosses ; for they often 
^ make one realize that he is here in 
banishment, and ought not to place his 
trust in any worldly thing. 

It is good too, that we are sometimes 
contradicted and other persons think ill 
of us ; and this although we do and in- 
tend well. These things help to make 
us humble, and to crush self-conceit ; for 
then we are more inclined to seek God 
for his approval when others condemn 
us and give us no credit for our good 
intentions. 

2. You should therefore settle yourself 
so fully in God that you have no need to 
seek many comforts from others. 

When you are afflicted, tempted, or 
troubled with wicked thoughts, then you 
understand better the great need you 
have of God, without whom you learn 
you can do nothing that is good. 



26 Resisting Temptation 

Then you are weary of living longer 
and wish your death would come, that 
you might depart and be with Christ. 
Then too, you see clearly that perfect 
security and full peace cannot be had in 
this world. 



CHAPTER XIII 
Of Resisting Temptation 

f~\0 long as we live in this world, we 
A must have trouble and temptation. 
ysjjp Hence it is written in Job, " The 
life of man upon earth is a life of temp- 
tation. " Every one therefore ought to 
be careful about his temptations and 
to watch in prayer lest the devil get 
the better of him ; for he never sleeps, 
but goes about seeking whom he may 
devour. 

No person in the world is so perfect 
and holy that he does not have sometimes 
temptations, and we cannot be altogether 
free of them. 

2. Temptations, however, do us good, 



Resisting Temptation 27 

though they may trouble and grieve us, 
for through them we are humbled, puri- 
fied, and instructed. 

Those that could not bear temptations 
fell away and became evil of heart. 
There is no order so holy and no place 
so secret as to be free from temptations 
or adversities. 

3. No one is altogether free from temp- 
tations so long as he lives on earth ; for 
the root of temptation is in ourselves, 
who are born with inclination to evil. 

When one temptation or trouble goes 
away, another comes ; and we shall 
always have something to suffer because 
we have fallen from the state of our 
happiness. 

Many while trying to flee from tempta- 
tions fall more deeply into them. Flight 
alone will not enable us to overcome 
temptations, but through patience and 
true humility we become stronger than 
all our enemies. 

4. He that avoids temptations out- 
wardly and fails to pluck them by the 
roots will gain little profit ; indeed, temp- 



28 Resisting Temptation 

tations will return the sooner unto him 
and will be more violent than before. 

By little and little, and by patience 
with long-suffering, you will overcome 
them more easily than by violence and 
your own disquiet. 

Be not too impatient with him who- is 
tempted ; but give him comfort as you 
would wish to be done to yourself. 

5. The beginning of all evil tempta- 
tions is wavering of the mind and small 
confidence in God. As a ship without a 
rudder is tossed to and fro by the waves, 
so he who is careless and fickle of pur- 
pose is in many ways tempted. 

Fire tries iron and temptation a just 
person. Often we do not know what we 
are able to do, but temptation shows us 
what we are. We must be watchful, 
especially in the beginning of the temp- 
tation, for the enemy is then more easily 
overcome, if we do not allow him to en- 
ter the door of our hearts, but resist him 
at the very gate, on his first knocking. 

Wherefore one said, u Withstand the 
beginnings ; the remedy is applied too 



Resisting Temptation 29 

late when the evil has grown strong 
through long delay. M1 

First there comes to the mind a simple 
thought of evil, then we dwell upon it, 
perhaps with delight, and then consent. 

So it is that little by little our enemy 
gains complete entrance, because he was 
not resisted at the beginning. 

The longer one is negligent in resisting, 
the weaker he becomes and the stronger 
the enemy is against him. 

6. Some suffer great temptations in the 
beginning of their conversion ; others in 
the latter end. Others again are much 
troubled almost through the whole of 
their life. 

Some are only slightly tempted, ac- 
cording to the Divine will, which weighs 
the conditions of men and orders all 
things for the good of his chosen ones. 

7. We ought not therefore to despair 
when we are tempted, but pray the more 
fervently unto God that he will help us 
in all tribulations ; for he will surely, ac- 
cording to the words of St. Paul, show 

1 Ovid, Lib. XIII., " De Remed." Am. 91. 



30 Resisting Temptation 

us with the temptation a way of escape 
that we may be able to bear it. 1 

Let us therefore humble our souls un- 
der the hand of God in all temptations 
and tribulations ; for he will save and 
exalt the humble in spirit. 

8. In temptations and afflictions one 
learns how much he has profited ; and 
his reward is therefore the greater and 
his graces shine forth more clearly. 

It is no great thing if you are devout 
and fervent when you feel no affliction ; 
but if in time of trouble you bear your- 
self patiently, there is hope then of great 
growth and grace. 

Some are kept from great temptations, 
but yield to small ones which do daily 
occur ; to the end that being humbled 
they may not be confident in great 
matters when they are worsted in so 
small things. How blessed it would be 
if we could all have the spirit of James, 
"a servant of God," when he said, 
" Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye 
fall into manifold temptations." 2 

1 i Cor. 10 : 13. 2 James 1:2 



Avoiding Rash Judgments 3 1 

CHAPTER XIV 
Of Avoiding Rash Judgments 

fURN your eyes unto yourself, and 
beware of judging the deeds of 
^ others. 1 In judging others one la- 
bors in vain, often errs and easily sins ; 2 
but in judging and examining himself, he 
labors fruitfully. 

We often judge of things as we happen 
to fancy them ; for private affection robs 
us easily of a right judgment. 

If God were always the pure object of 
our desire, we should not be so easily 
troubled through our worldly desires. 

2. But often something lurks within, 
or else occurs from without which draws 
us after it. 

Many secretly seek to benefit them- 
selves in what they do but do not know 
it. They seem also to live in good peace 
of mind, when things are done according 
to their wishes ; but if they go wrong 
they suffer much vexation. 

1 Matt. 7:1; Rom. 15:3. 2 Eccl 3 : 16. 



32 Works Done out of Charity 

The differences of judgments and opin- 
ions often cause dispute between friends, 
between religious and devout persons. 1 

3. An old habit is not easily broken, 2 
and no one is willing to be led farther 
than himself can see. 

If you rely more upon your own reason 
or industry, than upon that power which 
brings you under the obedience of Jesus 
Christ, it will be a long time before your 
soul is illuminated ; for God will have us 
perfectly subject unto him, that, being 
inflamed with his love, we may pass be- 
yond the narrow limits of human reason. 

CHAPTER XV 

Of Works Done Out of Charity 

|0 evil is ever to be done 3 for any 
worldly thing, nor for the love of 
any person; but for the good of 
one who stands in need a good work is 
sometimes to be checked without any 

1 Matt. 12 : 25 ; Luke 12 : 51. 2 Jer. 13 : 23. 

3 Matt. 18 : 8. 



Works Done out of Charity 33 

reproof of conscience, or even to be 
changed for a better. For in acting thus, 
a good work is not lost but changed into 
a better. 

Without charity the outward work is 
of no profit; 1 but whatever we do in 
charity, no matter how little and con- 
temptible in the sight of the world, it is 
very fruitful. For God weighs more how 
much love we work with, than how much 
we do. He does much who loves much. 

2. He does much who does a thing 
well. He does well who rather serves 
the common good than his own will. 1 

Oftentimes a work seems to be of char- 
ity, when it is really a work of the flesh ; 
because natural inclination, self-will, 
hope of reward, and desire to help our 
own interest are motives seldom absent. 

3. He that has true and perfect charity 
seeks himself in nothing, 3 but desires in 
all things to advance the glory of God. 

He also envies no one because he seeks 
no private good ; neither does he will to 

1 1 Cor. 13 : 3 ; Luke 7 : 47. 2 Phil. 2 : 17. 

3 Phil. 2 : 21 ; 1 Cor. 13 : 5. 

c 



34 Bearing with Faults of Others 

rejoice in himself, but wishes above all 
things to be made happy in the enjoy- 
ment of God. 1 

If we have but one spark of true char- 
ity, we shall certainly see that all earthly 
things are full of vanity. 

CHAPTER XVI 
Of 'Bearing with the Faults of Others 

f HOSE things that you cannot in> 

uS prove in yourself or in others, you 
ought to suffer patiently, until God 
orders them otherwise. 

Think that perhaps it is better thus for 
your trial and patience, without which all 
our good deeds are of little value. 

You ought to pray notwithstanding 
when you have such impediments, that 
God would grant to help you, and that 
you may bear them rightly. 2 

2. If one that is once or twice warned 
will not cease, strive not with him ; but 
commit all to God, that his will may be 

1 Ps. 17 : 15 ; 24 : 6. 2 Matt. 6 : 13 ; Luke n : 4. 



Bearing with Faults of Others 35 

done 1 and his name honored, who well 
knows how to turn evil into good. 

Try to be patient in bearing with the 
defects and infirmities of others, what- 
ever they may be : for you yourself also 
have many failings which must be borne 
with by others. 2 If you cannot make 
yourself such an one as you would, how 
can you expect to have another in all 
things to your liking ? We would like to 
have others perfect, and yet we do not 
free ourselves from our own faults. 

3. We will have others severely cor- 
rected, but we will not be corrected our- 
selves. We are displeased with the large 
liberty of others ; and yet we are unwill- 
ing to have our own desires denied us. 
We like to have others kept under by 
strict laws ; but will not consent to be 
restrained in any way ourselves. 

Thus it is seen that we seldom weigh 
our neighbor in the same balance with 
ourselves. If every one were perfect, 
what should we have to suffer from our 
neighbor for the sake of God ? 

1 Matt. 6 : 10. 2 1 Thess. 5 : 14 ; Gal. 6 : 1. 



36 Religious Associations 

4. But God has thus ordered it, that 
we may learn to bear one another's 
burdens; 1 for no one is without fault; 
no one but has his burden ; no one is suf- 
ficient of himself ; no one is wise enough 
of himself ; but we ought to bear with 
one another, comfort one another, help, 
instruct, and admonish one another. 2 

In adversity we best learn how great 
virtue or strength each one has. 

For adversity does not make one frail, 
but shows what he is. 



CHAPTER XVII 

Of Life in Religious Associations 
yOU must learn to break your own 



^rfP 



will in many things, if you will 

^Jf have peace and agreement with 

others. 3 If you will stand firm and grow 

as you ought, think yourself as a pilgrim 

and stranger upon earth. 4 

2. He that seeks anything else than 

1 Gal. 6:2. 2 1 Thess. 5 : 14 ; 1 Cor. 12 : 25. 

3 Gal. 6 : x. 4 1 Peter 2 : 11. 



Examples of the Fathers 37 

merely God and the salvation of his soul, 
shall find nothing but tribulation and sor- 
row. 1 Neither can he remain long in 
peace, that labors not to be the least, and 
subject unto all. 

3. You came to serve, not to rule. Re- 
member that you were called to suffer 
and to labor, and not to be idle, nor to 
spend your time in talk. Here therefore 
we are proved as gold in the furnace. 
Here no one can stand, unless he hum- 
bles himself with his whole heart for the 
love of God. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

Of the Examples of the Fathers 

jjfiJONSIDER the bright examples of 
I\Il-4 ^he Fathers, in whom true perfec- 
\gA tion and religion shone ; 2 and you 
shall see how little it is, and almost noth- 
ing, that we do in these days. Alas ! 
what is our life, if we compare ourselves 
to them ! 

1 Eccl. 1 : 17, 18. 2 Heb. n. 



38 Examples of the Fathers 

The saints and friends of Christ served 
the Lord in hunger and thirst, in cold and 
nakedness, in labor and weariness, in 
vvatchings and fastings, in prayer and 
holy meditations, in many persecutions 
and reproaches. 

2. Oh, how many and grievous tribu- 
lations suffered the apostles, martyrs, 
confessors, and all the rest that tried to 
follow the steps of Christ ! For they 
hated their lives, in this world, that 
they might preserve them unto life 
eternal. 1 They labored by day ; they 
prayed continually at night ; and even 
when they labored, they never ceased 
from mental prayer. 

3. They spent all their time with profit ; 
every hour seemed too short for the serv- 
ice of God. And because of the great 
sweetness they felt in contemplation, 
they forgot the need of food for the 
body. They would have nothing to do 
with riches, dignities, honors, friends, and 
relatives; 2 they desired nothing which 
related to the world ; they scarce took the 

1 John 12 : 25. 2 Matt. 19 : 29. 



Examples of the Fathers 39 

necessaries of life ; they grudged even 
the necessary care of the body. 

Consequently they were poor in earthly 
things, but very rich in grace and vir- 
tues. Outwardly they were destitute, 
but inwardly they were refreshed with 
grace and divine consolation. 

4. They were strangers to the world, 
but near and familiar friends to God. 1 
They were nothing to themselves, and 
despised by the present world ; but they 
were precious and beloved in the eyes of 
God. They were grounded in true humil- 
ity, they lived in simple obedience, they 
walked in love and patience ; and conse- 
quently they grew daily in the Spirit and 
gained great grace in God's sight. 

5. Oh, the lukewarmness arid negli- 
gence of our times ! That we so quickly 
fall away from our former fervor, and 
reach that state of spirit that makes our 
life tedious unto us. Would to God the 
desire to grow in virtue did not wholly 
sleep in you, who have seen so many 
examples of religious persons. 

1 James 4:4. 



40 A Good Religious Person 

CHAPTER XIX 

Of the Exercises of a Good Religious 
Person 

fHE life of a good religious person 
ought to excel in all virtues, 1 that 
he may truly be what he seems to 
the world. 

And in truth there ought to be much 
more within us than the world perceives. 
For God beholds us; 2 whom we are 
bound most highly to reverence wher- 
ever we are, and to walk in purity 3 like 
angels in his sight. We ought to renew 
our purposes daily and stir up ourselves 
to greater fervor, as if this were the first 
day of our conversion, and to say, 

" Help me, my God, in this my good 
purpose, and in thy holy service ; and 
grant that I may now this day begin 
perfectly ; for that which I have done 
hitherto is as nothing. " 

2. We shall profit spiritually in ac- 
cordance with our purpose ; and great 

1 Matt. 5 : 48. 2 Ps. 33 : 13 ; Heb. 4 : 12, 13. 3 Ps. 15 : 2. 



A Good Religious Person 4 1 

diligence is necessary to him that will 
profit much. 

And if he that makes such a firm re- 
solve often fails, what shall he do who 
seldom or only weakly makes resolves ? 
Yet in many ways it happens that we 
give up our purpose and a small omission 
of our spiritual exercises brings loss to 
our souls. 

The intentions of just men depend not 
upon their own wisdom, but upon God's 
grace, on whom they always rely for the 
success of whatever they take in hand. 
For man proposes, but God disposes ; ' for 
no man of himself can see the right way. 

3. If we omit some exercise, either for 
an act of piety, or profit to our brother, 
it is easy to recover it again. But if, 
through weariness or carelessness, we 
lightly omit it, it is very wrong and will 
hurt us. Do the best we can, and we 
shall still too easily fail in many things. 2 

But we must always have some fixed 
purpose, especially against those sins 
which do most of all hinder us. We 

1 Prov. 16 : 9. - Eccl. 7 : 20. 



42 A Good Religious Person 

must carefully search into and set in 
order both our outward and inward 
things, because both of them are im- 
portant to our progress in godliness. 

4. If you cannot collect yourself all 
the time, yet do it sometimes, at the 
least twice a day, namely, in the morn- 
ing and at night. 

In the morning fix your good purpose ; 
and at night carefully recall everything 
you have done, how you have behaved 
yourself in word, deed, and thought; 1 
for in these perhaps you have more than 
once offended both God and your neigh- 
bor. Gird up your loins like a man 
against the vile assaults of the devil, 
and you shall be the better able to keep 
under all the unruly desires of the flesh. 

Never be entirely idle ; but occupy all 
your time either in reading, or writing, 
or praying, or meditating, or trying to do 
something for the public good. 

As for bodily exercises they must be 
used with care, nor are they to be prac- 
tised by all persons alike. 

1 Deut. 4. 



A Good Religions Person 43 



5. Those devotions which do not be- 
long to the public ought not to be ex- 
posed to view ; for private devotions are 
practised most safely in secret. 

But you must take care not to neglect 
those which are public, that you may be 
the more ready for those that are private. 
But having done all that you are com- 
manded to do, if you have any spare time 
left give it to private devotion. 

All cannot use the same kind of spir- 
itual exercise, one being more useful for 
this person, and another for that. Dif- 
ferent exercises are fitting for different 
times ; some suit better on working days, 
others on holy days. 

We need one kind of spiritual exercise 
in the time of temptation, and others 
in time of peace and quietness. Some 
suit us when we are sad, and others 
when we rejoice in the Lord. 

6. But if our reward is delayed, let us 
think we are not yet sufficiently pre- 
pared, and are unworthy of so great 
glory which shall be revealed to us 1 in 

1 Rom. 8 : 18. 



44 Solitude and Silence 

due time ; and let us try to prepare our- 
selves better for death. 

St. Luke the evangelist says, " Blessed 
is that servant whom his Lord when he 
cometh shall find watching ; verily, 1 say 
unto you, he shall make him ruler over 
all his goods. " * 



CHAPTER XX 

Of the Love of Solitude and Silence 

3(||^! EEK a convenient time 2 and then 
1®1 £° ^ yourself and meditate often 
^p upon God's loving-kindness. Med- 
dle not with things you cannot under- 
stand ; but read such things as instruct 
your heart instead of your mind. 

If you will stop idle speaking, and 
from running idly about, and also from 
listening after gossip and new things, you 
will find plenty of time in which to medi- 
tate on good things. 

2. We find it true when we talk long 
together, that it is easier not to speak at 

1 Luke i2 : 43. 44 ; Matt. 24 : 46, 47. 2 Eccl. 3 : 1. 



Solitude and Silence 45 

all than to prevent ourselves from speak- 
ing too much. 

It is easier for you to remain hidden at 
home, than to watch over yourself suf- 
ficiently when you are abroad. He there- 
fore that means to attain to the more in- 
ward and spiritual things of religion, must 
with Jesus leave the multitude and crowd 
of people. 1 

It is safe for no one to appear abroad 
unless he, when it is his duty, can abide 
at home. 

It is safe for no one to speak who is 
not glad to hold his peace. 2 

The only one who can safely rule is 
he that is glad to be ruled. 

The only one who can safely rule is 
he that has learned gladly to obey. 

3. It is safe for no one to rejoice, un- 
less he has the witness of a good con- 
science. 

The security of bad persons arises 
from pride and presumption and in the 
end they are deceived. 

Although you may seem to be a good 

1 Matt. 5:1. 2 Eccl. 3 : 7. 



46 Solitude and Silence 

religious person, you must never promise 
yourself security in this life. 

4. Often those who have been held in 
the greatest esteem among men have 
fallen into the greatest danger because 
of too much self-confidence. 

It is, therefore, well for persons not to 
be entirely free from temptation, but to 
be often tempted, lest they should feel 
too safe and perhaps be puffed up with 
pride ; or should give themselves too 
freely to worldly comforts. 

Oh, how good a conscience would you 
keep, if you never sought after passing 
joy, nor ever entangled yourself with 
the world. 

Oh, what great peace and quietness 
would you possess, if you would cut off 
all vain anxiety, and think only of divine 
things, and such as are profitable for 
your soul, and would place all your con- 
fidence in God. 

5. No one is worthy of heavenly com- 
fort unless he has diligently exercised 
himself in repentance of heart. 

If you desire true repentance of heart, 



Solitude and Silence 47 

enter into your secret chamber, and shut 
out the tumult of the world, as it is writ- 
ten, " Commune with your own heart, 
and in your chamber, and be still. " ' In 
your chamber you shall find that which 
you too often lose abroad. The more 
you visit your chamber, the more you 
will enjoy it ; the less you visit it, the 
more you will dislike it. If in the begin- 
ning of your conversion you are con- 
tent to remain in it, and keep to it well, 
it will afterward be to you a dear friend, 
and a most pleasing comfort. 

6. In silence and in stillness a religious 
soul gains great advantage, and learns 
the mysteries of holy Scripture. There 
it finds rivers of tears, wherein it may 
every night 2 wash and cleanse itself; 
that it may be so much the nearer to its 
Creator, according as it lives farther off 
from all worldly disquiet. 

Whoso, therefore, withdraws himself 
from his acquaintance and friends, God 
will draw near unto him with his holy 
angels. It is better for you to live pri- 

1 Ps. 4 : 4- 2 Ps. 6 : 6. 



48 Solitude and Silence 

vately, and to have care to yourself, 
than to neglect your soul, though you 
could work wonders in the world. 

7. Why are you desirous to see that 
which it is unlawful for you to have ? 
The world passes away and the desires 
thereof. The yearnings of the flesh lead 
us to rove abroad ; but when the time is 
passed what do we carry home with us 
but a burdened conscience and a dis- 
tracted heart ? A merry going forth 
often brings a mournful return ; and a 
joyful night often makes a sad morning. 1 
So all worldly joy enters gently, but in 
the end it bites and stings to death. 

What can you see elsewhere, which 
you cannot see here ? 2 Behold the 
heaven and the earth and all the ele- 
ments ; for from these are all things 
created. 

8. What can you see anywhere that 
will long remain under the sun ? 

You think perhaps to satisfy yourself, 
but you can never attain it. 

Could you see all things present be- 

1 Prov. 14 : 13 2 Eccl. 1 : 10. 



Compunction of Heart 49 

fore your eyes, what would it be but a 
vain sight ? * Lift up your eyes 2 to God 
in the highest, and pray him to pardon 
your sins and negligences. 

Leave vain things to the vain ; but be 
intent yourself upon those things which 
God has commanded you. Shut your 
door upon you, and call unto you Jesus, 
your beloved. Stay with him in your 
closet ; for you shall not find so great 
peace anywhere else. If you had not 
gone abroad and listened to idle rumors, 
you would the better have preserved a 
happy peace of mind. 

CHAPTER XXI 

Of Compunction of Heart 

MF you wish to make any progress in 
f| godliness, keep yourself in the fear- 
er of God, 3 and use not too much lib- 
erty. Restrain all your senses under 
discipline, and give not yourself over to 
foolish mirth. 

1 Eccl. 3 : xx. a Ps. 121 : 1. 3 Prov. 19 : 23. 

D 



50 Compunction of Heart 

Give yourself to compunction or re- 
proving of heart, and you shall gain 
much devotion thereby. Compunction 
lays open much good, which dissolute- 
ness is quick to destroy. 

It is a wonder that any one can ever 
perfectly rejoice in this life if he really 
thinks, and fully weighs his state of 
banishment, and the many perils that 
surround his soul. 

2. Through carelessness of heart and 
little thought of our failings, we fail to 
feel the real sorrows of our souls ; and 
so we often idly laugh when we have 
good cause to weep. 

There is no true liberty nor right joy 
except in the fear of God accompanied 
with a good conscience. 

Happy is he who can cast off all dis- 
tracting temptations, and bring himself 
to the one single purpose of holy living. 

Happy is he who can give up all that 
may defile his conscience or burden it. 

Fight manfully ; one habit overcomes 
another. 

If you can let others alone in their 



Compunction of Heart $\ 

matters, they likewise will not hinder 
you in yours. 

3. Busy not yourself in matters which 
relate to others ; neither entangle your- 
self with the affairs of your betters. 

Be not grieved if you do not have the 
favor of others j 1 but take this to heart, 
that you do not behave yourself as care- 
fully as becomes a servant of God, and 
a devout, religious person. 

It is often better and safer for you 
that you should not have many com- 
forts in this life, 2 especially those of a 
worldly nature. 

It is our fault if we do not have divine 
comfort at all, or very seldom taste it, 
because we do not seek the approval of 
our conscience, nor fully forsake the vain 
and outward comforts of this world. 

4. Remember that you are unworthy 
of divine comfort, that you have rather 
deserved much affliction. 

When one has a tender conscience, 
then is the whole world grievous and 
bitter unto him. 3 

1 Gal. 1 : 10. 2 Ps. 76 : 5. 3 Judg. 2:4: 20 : 26 ; 2 Kings 13. 



52 Compunction of Heart 

A good person always finds enough 
cause for mourning and weeping. For 
whether he thinks of his own or his 
neighbor's condition, he knows that no 
one lives here without tribulation. And 
the more closely one looks into himself 
the more is his sorrow. 

Our sins and wickednesses to which 
we are so devoted that we can seldom 
give ourselves to heavenly thoughts, 
justly cause our sorrow and reproof of 
conscience. 

5. If you thought oftener of death 1 
than of length of life, there is no doubt 
but you would be more zealous to im- 
prove yourself. But because these things 
do not enter the heart, and we still love 
only those things that delight us, we re- 
main cold and very dull in religion. 

6. It is often our want of spirituality 
which makes our miserable body so quick 
to complain. Pray therefore unto the 
Lord in all humbleness, that he will give 
you the spirit to obey your conscience 
in all things. And say with the prophet, 

1 Eccl. 7 : 1. 2. 



Human Misery 53 



" Feed me, O Lord, with the bread of 
tears, and give me plenteousness of tears 
to drink." 1 



CHAPTER XXII 

Of the Considerations of Hitman Misery 

^i3p)lSERABLE you are, wherever 
^/Mlc you be, or which way you turn, 
<%?0§z± unless with all your heart you 
turn yourself unto God. 

Why are you troubled when things do 
not go as you wish ? For who is he that 
has all things as he desires ? 2 Neither 
I, nor you, nor any one on earth. 

There is no one in this world, even if 
he be king or bishop, without some trou- 
ble or perplexity. Who is, then, in the 
best situation ? Even he who is able to 
suffer something for God. 

2. Many weak and infirm persons say, 
Behold what a happy life such an one 
leads ; 3 how rich, how great he is ; what 
power and dignity he has ! 

1 Ps. 80 : 5. 2 Eccl. 6:2. 3 Luke 12 : 19. 



54 Human Misery 



But lift up your eyes to the riches of 
heaven, and you shall see that all the 
goods of this life are not to be compared 
with them. The world's riches are very 
uncertain, and often a burden rather 
than otherwise, because they always 
bring anxiety and care. No person's 
happiness consists in having plenty of 
worldly goods, l but a moderate portion 
is enough for him. 

The more spiritual a person wishes to 
be, the more bitter does this present life 
become to him ; because he sees more 
clearly the extent of human corruption. 

For to eat and to drink, to sleep and to 
watch, to labor and to rest and to be sub- 
ject to other needs of nature, is often an 
affliction to a religious person, who would 
be gladly set loose and freed from all sin. 

3. For the inward man is much weighed 
down in this world by the needs of the 
body. Therefore the prophet prays with 
great earnestness to be freed from them, 
saying, " Bring thou me out of my dis- 
tresses." 2 

1 Prov. 19 : 1. 2 Rom. 8 : 22. 



Human Misery 55 



But woe be to them that know not 
their own misery ; and a greater woe to 
them that love this miserable and cor- 
ruptible life ! l 

For there are some who so much dote 
upon it, that by labor and begging they 
can hardly get enough to live, yet if they 
could stay here always, they would care 
nothing at all for the kingdom of God. 

4. Oh, how senseless are such persons 
and unbelieving in heart, who are so 
deeply sunk in the earth that they can 
enjoy nothing but worldly things ! 2 But 
miserable as they are, they shall in the 
end feel to their cost how vile and how 
empty everything was that they loved. 

The devout friends of Christ cared 
nothing for those things which pleased 
the flesh, nor those which were prized 
in this life, but longed after the everlast- 
ing riches, with their whole hope and 
earnest effort. Their whole desire was 
carried upward to things eternal and in- 
visible, that the desire for things visible 
might not draw them to things below. 

1 Rom. 8 : 22. 2 Rom. 3 : 5. 



56 Human Misery 



5. O my brother, give not up your 
confidence of making progress in godli- 
ness ; there is yet time, the hour is not 
yet passed. 1 Why will you defer your 
good purpose from day to day ? Arise 
and begin this very instant, and say, 
Now is the time to be doing, now is the 
time to be striving, now is the real time 
to improve myself. 

When you are ill at ease and much 
troubled, then is the time to earn your 
reward. You must pass through fire and 
water before you reach a safe place. 
Unless you do violence to yourself, you 
shall never get the victory over sin. 

So long as we carry about us this frail 
body of ours, we shall never be without 
sin, nor live without weariness and pain. 

We would gladly obtain rest from all 
misery, but seeing that through sin we 
have lost our innocency we have also 
lost with it the true bliss. 3 

Therefore we must have patience, 
and wait for the mercy of God till this 

1 1 Peter 1:4; Heb. 11 : 26. 2 Rom. 13:11; Heb. 10 : 35. 
3 Ps. 46 : 12. 



Human Misery 57 



tyranny be passed, 1 and death comes to 
our relief. 2 

6. Oh, how great is human frailty, 
which is always inclined to evil ! 3 To- 
day you confess your sins, and to-mor- 
row you commit the very same sins which 
you have confessed. Now you intend to 
look well unto your ways, and very soon 
you act as if you had never any such in- 
tention at all. We have good cause there- 
fore to humble ourselves, 4 and not to feel 
any great conceit ; since we are so frail 
and inconstant. 

That which, by the grace of God, and 
with much labor we have at last hardly 
obtained may be quickly lost by our own 
negligence. 

7. What will become of us in the end, 
who begin so early to grow lukewarm ? 
Woe be unto us, if we so give ourselves 
to ease as if all were peace and safety, 
when as yet there are no signs of true 
holiness in our conversation ! We have 
much need like young beginners to be 

1 Rom. 7 : 24 ; Gen. 3 : 17. 2 2 Cor. 5 : 4. 

3 Gen. 6 : 5 ; 8 : 21. 4 2 Mac. 9 : 11. 



58 Meditation on Death 

newly instructed again to good life, if 
haply there is some hope of future im- 
provement, and greater gain in things 
spiritual. 

CHAPTER XXIII 

Of Meditation on Death 

Sf^ERY quickly there will be an end 

\ ft of you here; 1 see therefore to 
^r your state ; to-day man is ; to- 
morrow he is gone. And when he is out 
of sight, he is also quickly out of mind. 

Oh, the stupidity and hardness of 
man's heart, which thinks only upon the 
present, and does not rather care for what 
is to come ! 

You ought so to order yourself in all 
your thoughts and actions, as if to-day 
you were to die. 2 

If you had a good conscience, you 
would not greatly fear death. 3 

It is better to avoid sin than to escape 
death. 4 

1 Job 9 : 25, 26 ; 14 : 1, 2 ; Luke 12 : 20 ; Heb. 9 : 27. 
2 Matt. 25 : 13. 3 Luke 12 : 37. 4 Wisd. 4 : 16. 



Meditation on Death 59 

If you are not prepared to-day, how- 
will you be prepared to-morrow ? 1 

To-morrow is uncertain, and how do 
you know you shall live till to-morrow ? 

2. What good is it to live long, when 
there is so little improvement in us ? 
Alas ! length of days does not always bet- 
ter us, but often rather increases our sin. 

Oh, that we had spent only one day 
in this world thoroughly well ! 

There are many who count years since 
their conversion ; and yet their improve- 
ment since that time has been slender. 

If we think it dreadful to die, to live 
long may perhaps prove more dangerous. 
Happy is he who always has the fear of 
death before his eyes, 2 and daily prepares 
himself to die. If you have ever seen 
another person die, remember that you 
also must pass the same way. 

3. In the morning think that you may 
die before night ; and when evening 
comes, dare not to feel certain that you 
will see the next morning. Be therefore 
always ready, and so lead your life that 

1 Matt. 24 : 44 ; 25 : 10. 2 Eccl. 7 : 1. 



60 Meditation on Death 

death may never find you unprepared. 1 
Many die suddenly when they do not 
look for it ; for the Son of Man will come 
in an hour when we think not. 2 

When that last hour shall come, you 
will begin to have a far different opinion 
of the whole of your life that is past, and 
be exceeding sorry that you have been 
so careless and remiss. 

4. Oh, how wise and happy is he who 
now labors to be such an one in his life 
as he will desire to be found at the hour 
of death ! 3 

A perfect contempt of the world, 4 a 
fervent desire to go forward in all vir- 
tue, a love of discipline, a determined 
repentance, a ready obedience, a denying 
of ourselves, and a submission to any 
affliction whatsoever for the love of 
Christ, will give us good reason to be 
sure we shall die happily. While you 
are in health you may do much good : 
but when you are sick, I do not see 
what you will be able to do. 

1 Heb. 9 : 27. 2 Luke 21 : 36. 

8 Matt. 24 : 44 ; Luke 12 : 40. 4 Ecclus. 41 : i* 



Meditation on Death 6 1 

Few grow better and more reformed 
through sickness ; so also when they 
wander much abroad, they seldom by 
such means become holy. 

5. Trust not to friends and relatives/ 
nether put off the care of your soul's 
welfare till hereafter ; for others will for- 
get you sooner than you think. It is bet- 
ter to look to it in time, and to send 
some good ahead of you than to trust 
to other persons' help. 1 If you are not 
careful for yourself now, who will be care- 
ful for you hereafter ? 

Time now is very precious ; now is the 
day of salvation ; now is the accepted 
time. But alas ! that you should spend 
your time idly here, in which you might 
secure life eternal. The time will come 
when you will long for one day or hour 
in which to repent, and I do not know 
that it will be given to you. 

6. O beloved, from what great danger 
you might deliver yourself, from what 
great fear free yourself, if only you would 
be always fearful and mindful of death. 

1 Isa. 30 : 5 ; 31 : 1 ; Jer. 17 : 5 ; 48 : 7 ; Matt. 6 : 20. 



62 Meditation on Death 

Try now so to live, that at the hour of 
death you will rejoice rather than fear. 
Learn now to die to the world, that you 
may then begin to live with Christ. 1 
Learn now to despise all things, 2 that you 
may then go freely to Christ. Punish 
now your body by repentance, 3 that you 
may then have no doubts or fears. 

7. Ah ! fool, why do you expect to 
live long, when you cannot be certain 
of one day ? 4 

How many have been deceived and 
suddenly snatched away ! How often do 
you hear these reports : Such a man is 
killed, another man is drowned, a third 
has broken his neck by a fall from some 
high place, this man died eating, that man 
playing ! One perished by fire, another 
by the sword, another of sickness, an- 
other was slain by robbers. Thus death 
is the end of all, and one's life suddenly 
passes away like a shadow. 5 

8. Who shall remember you when you 
are dead ? And who shall pray for you ? 

1 Rom. 6:1. * Luke 14 : 33. 3 1 Cor. 9 : 27. 
4 Luke 12 : 20. 5 Job 14 : 2. 



Meditation on Death 63 

Do now, even now, my dear friend, what- 
ever you are able to do ; for you do not 
know when you shall die, nor what shall 
befall you after your death. 

Now, while you have time, heap unto 
yourself everlasting riches. 1 Think of 
nothing but the salvation of your soul, 
care for nothing but the things of God. 

Make now friends to yourself by hon- 
oring the saints of God, so that when you 
fail, they may receive you into everlast- 
ing habitations. 2 

9. Keep yourself as a stranger and pil- 
grim upon the earth, 3 who has nothing 
to do with the affairs of this world. 

Keep your heart free, and lift it up to 
God, because you have here no abid- 
ing city. 4 Send thither your daily pray- 
ers and sighs together with your tears, 
that after death your spirit may be found 
worthy to pass in bliss to the Lord. Then 
when this earthly house of your taber- 
nacle shall be dissolved you will have a 
building of God. Amen. 

1 Matt. 6 : 20 ; Luke 12 : 33 ; Gal. 6 : 8. 
2 Luke 16 : 9 ; Heb. 11. 3 1 Peter 2:11. 4 Heb. 13 : 14. 



64 Judgment and Punishment 

CHAPTER XXIV 

Of Judgment and the Punishment 
of Sinners 

MH all things look to the end and see 
fj how you will be able to stand before 
^ that severe Judge 1 from whom noth- 
ing is hid, who is not pacified with gifts, 
nor admits any excuses, but will judge 
according to justice. 

O wretched and foolish sinner, who 
sometimes fears the face of an angry 
man, what answer will you make to God 
who knows all your wickedness ? 2 

Why do you not provide for yourself 3 
against that great day of judgment when 
no one can excuse or answer for another, 
but every one shall have enough to an- 
swer for himself ? Now may your pains 
profit, your tears be accepted, 4 your 
groans be heard, your grief bring you 
peace, and cleanse your soul. 

2. The patient man 5 though he receive 

1 Heb. io : 31. 2 Job 9:2. 3 Luke 16 : 9. 

4 2 Cor. 6:4. 6 James 1 : 4- 



Judgment and Punishment 65 

injuries, grieves more for the malice of 
another than for his own sufferings ; he 
prays willingly for his enemies 1 , and from 
his heart forgives their offenses. He de- 
lays not to ask forgiveness of whomso- 
ever he has offended ; he is sooner moved 
to compassion than to anger ; he often 
offers violence to himself, and labors to 
bring his body wholly into subjection to 
the spirit. It is better to purge out our 
sins, and cut off our vices here, than to 
keep them to be punished hereafter. 
Truly we deceive ourselves through too 
great love of the flesh. 

3. What is there that the fire of hell 
shall feed upon except thy sins? The 
more you spare yourself now and follow 
worldly desires, the more severe hereafter 
shall be your punishment, and you store 
up greater fuel for that flame. In those 
things in which you have sinned, you 
shall be the more grievously punished. 

4. There is no sin that shall not have 
its own proper torment. There the proud 
shall be filled with shame ; the covetous 

1 Luke 23 : 34 ; Acts 7 : 60. 

E 



66 judgment and Punishment 

shall be pinched with miserable want. 
One hour of pain there shall be more 
bitter than a thousand years of the sharp- 
est penance here ! 

Be now anxious and sorrowful because 
of your sins, that at the day of judgment 
you may be safe with the blessed. For 
then shall the righteous stand with great 
boldness against those who have vexed 
and oppressed them. 1 Then he who now 
humbly submits himself to the blame of 
men shall stand to judge them. Then 
shall the poor and humble feel secure, 
but the proud man shall tremble with 
fear on every side. 

5. Then will it be seen that he was 
wise in this world, who had learned to 
be a fool and to be despised for Christ's 
sake. Then shall every trouble patiently 
suffered here delight us, when the mouth 
of all wickedness shall be stopped. 2 Then 
shall all the devout rejoice, and all the 
profane mourn. Then shall the morti- 
fied flesh rejoice more than that which 
has been pampered with all pleasures. 3 

1 Wisd. 5:1. 2 Ps. 107 : 42. 3 2 Cor. 4 : 17. 



Judgment and Punishment 67 

Then shall the poor attire shine glori- 
ously, and the costly robes seem vile 
and contemptible. 

Then shall the poor cottage be more 
pleasing than the gilded palace. Then 
shall constant patience help us more 
than all earthly power. Then simple 
obedience shall be exalted above all 
worldly wisdom. 1 

6. Then shall a good and clear con- 
science give one more happiness than all 
the learning of philosophy. 

Then shall the contempt of riches weigh 
more than all the worldling's pleasure. 
Then shall you be more comforted if you 
have prayed devoutly than if you had 
fared daintily. Then shall you be more 
glad that you kept silence than if you had 
spoken much. Then shall good works 
help you more than many goodly words. 
Then shall a strict life and severe repent- 
ance be more pleasing than all earthly 
delights. Learn to suffer now a little, 
that you may then be delivered from 
more grievous pains. 

1 Isa. 29 : ig. 



68 Judgment and Punishment 

Prove first here what you can endure 
hereafter. If you can endure now so 
little, how will you be able to suffer eter- 
nal torments? It is certain you cannot 
have two joys ; it is impossible to take 
your pleasure here in this world, and 
after that to reign with Christ. 

7. Suppose you had lived up to this 
day always in honors and delights, what 
good would it do you if you were doomed 
to die at this instant ? 1 All therefore 
is vanity, 2 except to love God and serve 
him only. "Fear God, and keep his 
commandments ; for this is the whole 
duty of man." 1 

For he that loves God with all his heart 
is neither afraid of death, nor of punish- 
ment, nor of judgment, nor of hell ; for 
perfect love gives certain admittance to 
God. What wonder is it that he who 
takes delight in sin is afraid both of death 
and judgment? But he that lays aside 
the fear of God, can never continue long 
in good living, but falls quickly into the 
snares of the devil. 

1 Luke 22 : 20. 2 Eccl. 1:2. 3 Ibid., 12 : 13. 



Amendment of Life 69 

CHAPTER XXV 

Of the Zealous Amendment of Our 
Whole Life 

IBl^ watc h^ u ' an d diligent in the serv- 

CB * ce °^ ^°^ ;1 anc ^ °^ en as ^ y° ur * 

^? self why you came here, and why 
you have left the world. Was it not that 
you might live to God, and become a 
spiritual person ? 

Be fervent then in going forward, 2 for 
shortly you shall receive the reward of 
your labors ; and you shall have no more 
fear or sorrow. 3 Labor only a little now, 
and you shall find great rest, yea, per- 
petual joy. 4 If you continue faithful and 
fervent in your work, God will surely be 
faithful and liberal in rewarding you. 5 
You ought to have good hope 6 of getting 
the victory ; but you must not be too 
secure, lest you grow either negligent 
or proud. 

1 2 Tim. 4:5. " Matt. 5 : 48. 3 Rev. 21 : 4 ; 22 : 3. 

4 Ecclus. 51 : 27 ; Rev. 21 : 4 ; 22 : 3. 

5 Matt. 25 : 21. 6 Rom. 5 : 5. 



70 Amendment of Life 

2. Once one who was anxious in mind, 
often wavering between fear and hope and 
oppressed with grief, humbly prostrated 
himself in a church before the altar, and 
prayed, Oh, if I knew that I should per- 
severe ! God answered him from within, 
If you knew it, what would you do ? Do 
now what you would do then, and you 
shall be secure. 

And being thereby comforted and 
strengthened, he committed himself 
wholly to the will of God, and his 
anxious doubts passed away. Nor did 
he care to search curiously any farther, 
to know what should come to him ; but 
preferred to labor to understand what 
was the perfect and acceptable will of 
God 1 for the beginning and doing of 
every good work. 

3. '? Trust in the Lord, and do good/' 
saith the prophet, "so shalt thou dwell 
in the land, and verily thou shalt be 
fed." 2 One thing draws many back 
from spiritual progress and the diligent 
improvement of their lives : the fear of 

1 Rom. 12 : 2. 2 Ps. 37 : 3. 



Amendment of Life 71 

the difficulty, or the hardness of the 
struggle. 

Those who make the greatest effort to 
overcome the things that are most griev- 
ous and contrary unto them especially 
exceed others in all virtue. For there 
a man improves most and obtains the 
greatest grace, where he most overcomes 
himself and mortifies himself in spirit. 

4. But all persons have not the same 
amount to overcome and mortify. But 
he who is zealous and diligent, though 
he have more passions, shall profit more 
than he of a more temperate natural dis- 
position, if he is less fervent in the pur- 
suit of all virtue. 

Two things especially will help us to 
improve : to withdraw ourselves violently 
from those vices to which our natures 
most incline, and to labor earnestly to 
obtain the good which we most lack. Be 
careful also to avoid with great care those 
things in yourself which you are dis- 
pleased to see in others. 

5. Gather some profit to your soul 
wherever you are ; so that if you see or 



72 Amendment of Life 

hear of any good examples, you arouse 
yourself to imitate them. 

But if you see anything deserving of 
reproof, take care that you do not the 
same. And if at any time you have done 
it, labor quickly to improve yourself. 

As your eye observes others, 1 so also 
are you observed by them. 

Oh, how sweet and pleasant a thing it 
is, to see brethren fervent and devout, 
well behaved and well disciplined. 2 

On the other hand how sad and griev- 
ous a thing it is to see them dissolute and 
disordered, not applying themselves to 
that for which they are called. How 
harmful a thing it is, when they neglect 
the good purpose of their calling, and 
b&sy themselves with that which is of 
no concern to them. 

6. Remember always the profession 
which you have made, and have always 
before your eyes the remembrance of 
your Saviour crucified. You have good 
cause to be ashamed in looking upon 
the life of Jesus Christ, because you 

1 Matt. 3:3. 2 Eph. 5 ; 1 Cor. 12 : 18 ; Eccl. 3 : 1. 



Amendment of Life 73 

have not yet tried to act more like him, 
though you have been a long time in the 
way of God. 

A religious person who exercises him- 
self seriously and devoutly in the most 
holy life and passion of our Lord, shall 
there find abundantly whatever is neces- 
sary and profitable for him ; neither shall 
he need to seek any better thing out of 
Jesus. Oh, how quickly and fully we 
should be taught if Jesus crucified would 
come to our hearts. 1 

7. A fervent religious person takes and 
bears well all that is commanded him to 
take and bear. But he that is negligent 
and lukewarm has trouble upon trouble, 
and is afflicted on all sides ; for he has 
no inward consolation, and is forbidden 
to seek outward comforts. 

He that seeks liberty and ease, shall 
always live in disquiet ; for one thing or 
another will displease him. 

8. Oh, that we had nothing else to do, 
but always to praise our Lord God with 
our mouth and whole heart. 

1 Gal. 2 : 20 ; 6 : 14. 



74 Amendment of Life 

Oh, that you might never have need 
to eat, or drink, or sleep ; but might al- 
ways praise God, and only employ your- 
self in spiritual exercises. You would 
then be much more happy than you are 
now, when you are compelled to serve 
the many needs of your body. Would 
God there were not these needs, but only 
the spiritual needs of the soul, which, 
alas, we taste too seldom. 

9. When one reaches that point, that 
he seeks not his comfort from any crea- 
ture, then does he begin perfectly to 
relish God. Then shall he be contented 
with whatever befalls him. Then shall 
he neither rejoice in having much, nor be 
sorrowful for having little ; but with faith 
fully commit himself to God, who shall 
be all in all l unto him ; to whom nothing 
perishes nor dies, but all things live unto 
him and serve him at his command with- 
out delay. 

10. Remember always your end 2 and 
that time lost never returns. Without 

1 Rom. 11 : 36 ; 1 Cor. 8:6; 12 : 6 ; 15 : 28. 
2 Ecclus. 7 : 36. 



Amendment of Life 75 

care and diligence you shall never get 
virtue. 

When you begin to grow lukewarm, 1 
it will begin to become evil with you. 

But if you give yourself to fervor of 
spirit you shall find much peace and feel 
less labor, because of the help of God's 
grace, and the love of virtue. The fer- 
vent and diligent person is prepared for 
all things. 

It is harder work to resist vices and 
passions than to toil with the body. He 
who does not avoid small faults, falls 
little by little into greater ones. 2 

You will rejoice every evening, if you 
can look back on a day well spent. Be 
watchful over yourself, stir up yourself, 
warn yourself, and no matter whatever 
becomes of others, neglect not yourself. 

The more violence you use against 
yourself, the greater shall be your im- 
provement and profit. Amen. 

1 Rev. 3 : 16. 2 Ecclus. 19 : 1. 



The Second Book 

Admonitions Concerning 
Inward Things 



CHAPTER I 
Of the Inward Life 

fHE kingdom of God is within 
you," 1 saith the Lord. Turn 
to him with your whole heart, 2 
and forsake this wretched world, and 
your soul shall find rest. 

Learn to despise outward or worldly 
things, and to give yourself to things 
inward or spiritual, and you shall find 
the kingdom of God has come to you. 
"For the kingdom of God is peace and 
joy in the Holy Ghost," 8 which is not 
given to the wicked. 

Christ will come unto you, and show 
you his own comfort, if you prepare 
your heart to receive him. All his glory 
and beauty is from within/ and there 
he delighteth himself. 

1 Luke 17 : 21. * Joel 2 : 12. 

3 Rom. 14 : 17. 4 Ps. 45 i 13. 

79 



8o The Inward Life 






' 



He often visits our inward souls, bring 
ing sweet words, pleasant cheer, grea 
peace, and wonderful familiarity. 

2. O faithful soul, make ready your 
heart for this coming, that he may come 
and dwell within you. 

For thus saith he, "If any man love 
me, he will keep my words, and we will 
come unto him, and will make our abode 
with him. ,, l 

Open therefore your heart unto Christ, 
and close it against all others. 

When you have Christ you are rich 
and have enough. He will be your 
faithful and wise helper in alJ things, 
so you will not need to trust any one 
else. For persons soon change, and 
quickly forsake you ; but Christ remains 
forever, 2 and stands firmly by us unto 
the end. 

3. It is not safe to put trust in a weak 
and mortal man, 3 even though he be near 
and dear unto us ; neither ought we to 
care much if sometimes he cross and op- 
pose us. Those that take your part to- 

1 John 14 : 25. 2 John 12 : 34. 3 Jer. 17 : 5. 



The Inward Life 8 1 



day may turn against you to-morrow ; 
and men are often as changeable as the 
wind. Put all your trust in God jj fear 
him and love him : he shall do all things 
that are well and best for you. 

This earth is not your home; 2 and 
wherever you may be, you are like a 
stranger and wanderer : neither shall 
you ever have rest, unless you are in- 
wardly joined unto Christ. 

4. Why do you fix your heart upon 
things around you, since this is not your 
place of rest ? Heaven ought to be your 
home, 3 and all earthly things should be 
looked upon as those that will not last. 
All things pass away/ and you must pass 
with them. 

Take care, therefore, that you do not 
cleave unto them, lest you be held by 
them and so perish. Let your thoughts 
be on the highest, and your prayers 
for mercy directed unto Christ without 
ceasing. 

If you cannot understand high and 

' - Peter 5:7. 2 Heb. 13 : 14. 3 Phil. 3 \ 20. 
4 Wisd. 5 : 9. 

F 



82 The Inward Life 



heavenly things, rest yourself in the 
love of Christ, and think on his sacred 
wounds. For if you think devoutly 
of the wounds and precious marks of 
the Lord Jesus, you shall feel great 
comfort in trouble ; neither will you 
care much for the slights of others, and 
will easily bear the words of those that 
chide you. 

5. Christ when in the world was also 
despised of men, and in his greatest 
need his acquaintances and friends for- 
sook him. 1 

Since Christ was willing to suffer and 
be despised, how dare you complain of 
anything ? Christ had enemies and 
backbiters ; and do you wish to have all 
persons your friends and benefactors ? 
How shall you win a crown 2 through 
patience, if you never meet with adver- 
sities ? If you are unwilling to suffer 
contradiction, how will you expect to 
be a friend of Christ ? Suffer with 
Christ, and for Christ, if you wish to 
leign with Christ. 

1 Matt. 12 : 24; 16 : 21 ; John 20 : 20. 2 2 Tim. 2 : 5. 



The Inward Life 83 



6. If you but once perfectly under- 
stood the Lord Jesus, and had tasted a 
little of his ardent love, you would not 
think of your own convenience or in- 
convenience, but would rather rejoice in 
reproaches, if they were cast upon you ; 
for the love of Jesus makes every person 
despise himself. 

A lover of Jesus and of the truth, and 
a true inward Christian, and one free 
from strong worldly affections, can freely 
turn himself unto God, and lift himself 
above himself in spirit, and rest in full 
enjoyment. 

7. He that sees all things as they 
really are, and not as they are said or 
thought to be, is truly wise, and is taught 
rather of God than of men. 1 

He that knows how to live inwardly or 
spiritually, and to care little for worldly 
things, does not need places, nor special 
times for observing religious exercises. 

A spiritual person is quick to remem- 
ber himself, because he never gives him- 
self up wholly to outward things. He is 

1 Isa. 54 : 13. 



84 The Inward Life 



not hindered by outward labor or busi- 
ness, which is sometimes necessary; but 
he suits himself to all things that happen. 
He whose heart is rightly disciplined is 
not disturbed by the strange and wicked 
behavior of others. 

You are hindered and distracted, in 
proportion as you allow outward things 
to govern you. 

8. If it were well with you, and you 
were thoroughly purified from sin, every- 
thing would turn out for your good, and 
help your progress. " And we know that 
to them that love God all things work 
together for good, even to them that are 
called according to his purpose." l 

But many things displease and often 
trouble you, because you are not yet 
perfect master of yourself, nor wholly 
separated from all earthly things. Noth- 
ing so defiles and entangles the heart as 
the impure love of worldly things. If you 
refuse worldly comfort, you will be able 
to understand the things of heaven and 
often to receive internal or spiritual joy. 

Rom. 8 : 28, 



Humble Submission 85 

CHAPTER II 

Of Humble Submission 

|f|^ARE little who is for you or who is 
fl|?\ against you; 1 but give all your 
^fl thought and care to making sure 
that God is with you in everything 
you do. 

Keep a good conscience, and God will 
well defend you. 2 

For he who is helped by God cannot 
be hurt by the malice of men. 

Learn to suffer in silence, and without 
doubt you shall see that the Lord will 
help you. 

He knows the time and the way in 
which to deliver you. And therefore you 
ought to resign yourself unto him. It 
belongs to God to help, and to deliver 
you from all trouble. 

It often does us good and keeps us 
more humble, to have others know and 
rebuke our faults. 

2. When a person humbles himself 

1 Rom. 7 : 31 ; 1 Cor. 4:3. 2 Ps. 28 : 7. 



86 A Good and Peaceable Man 

because of his failings, he easily soothes 
others, and quickly satisfies those who 
are offended with him. 

God protects and delivers the hum- 
ble; 1 he loves and comforts the hum- 
ble ; he inclines himself to the humble 
person ; he gives great grace unto the 
humble ; and after his humiliation he 
raises him to glory. 

He reveals his secrets to the humble, 2 
and invites and draws them sweetly 
unto himself. The humble person may 
have much trouble, but he has much 
peace ; for he rests on God and not on 
the world. 



CHAPTER III 

Of a Good and Peaceable Man 

flRST keep yourself in peace, and 
then you shall be able to make 
peace among others. A peaceable 
man does more good than he that is 
highly learned. 

1 James 3 ; Job 5 : n. 2 Matt, n : 25. 



A Good and Peaceable Man 87 

A passionate person draws even good 
into evil, and easily believes the worst. 
A good and peaceable person turns all 
things to good. 

He that is in peace, is not suspicious 
of any one. 1 But he that is discontented 
and troubled, is worried with many sus- 
picions : he is neither quiet himself, nor 
does he suffer others to be quiet. He 
often says that which he ought not to 
say ; and leaves undone that which it 
were better for him to do. He thinks 
what others ought to do, 2 and neglects 
that which he ought to do himself. 

First, therefore, watch carefully over 
yourself, 3 and then you may justly show 
a care for your neighbors good. 

2. You know well how to excuse and 
color your own acts, but are not willing 
to receive the excuses of others. It 
would be more just to accuse yourself, 
and excuse your brother. If you wish to 
be borne with, bear also with another. 4 

Reflect how far off you are yet from 

1 1 Cor. 13 : 5. 2 Matt. 7:3. 3 Acts 22 : 3. 
4 Gal. 3 : 2 ; 1 Cor. 13 : 7. 



88 A Good and Peaceable Man 

true charity and humility; for true char- 
ity and humility do not know how to be 
angry with any one, or to feel indigna- 
tion, except against one's self. 

It is no very great thing to associate 
with the good and gentle ; for this is 
naturally pleasing to all, and every one 
willingly enjoys peace, and loves best 
those that agree with him. But to be 
able to live peaceably with disagreeable 
persons, or with the quarrelsome, or with 
such as oppose us, is a great grace, and 
a most praiseworthy and manly thing. 

3. There are some that keep them- 
selves in peace, and are in peace also 
with others. And there are some that 
neither are in peace themselves, nor 
allow others to be in peace. They are 
troublesome to others, but always more 
troublesome to themselves. 

Again there are others that keep them- 
selves in peace, and try to bring back 
others unto peace. Our whole peace 
however in this miserable life consists 
rather in enduring humbly, than in not 
suffering things that displease us. 



Mind and Intention 89 

He that knows best how to suffer, will 
best keep himself in peace. Such a per- 
son is conqueror of himself, and lord of 
the world, the friend of Christ, and an 
heir of heaven. 



CHAPTER IV 

Of a Pure Mind and a Simple Intention 

^fjTifrE are lifted up from earthly things 
W^Mt ^ simplicity and purity. 
r^g&H If we have simplicity we are 
honest, simple-minded, and free from pre- 
tense ; if we have purity, we think and 
act no evil. Simplicity draws us toward 
God ; purity enables us to understand 
and enjoy him. No good action will hinder 
you, if in your heart you are free from 
worldly affection. 

If you intend and seek nothing else but 
the will of God and the good of your 
neighbor, you will fully enjoy inward 
liberty. If your heart is sincere and up- 
right, every creature will be unto you a 
living mirror, and a book of holy doctrine. 



90 Mind and Intention 

There is no creature however small 
and wretched, that does not represent 
the goodness of God. 1 

2. If you are inwardly good and pure, 2 
you will have no trouble in seeing and 
understanding all things well. A pure 
heart penetrates heaven and hell. Such 
as we are inwardly, so we judge out- 
wardly. If there be any joy in the world, 
surely the one with a pure heart pos- 
sesses it. And if there be any trouble or 
sorrow, an evil conscience best knows it. 

When an iron is put in the fire it 
loses its rust, and becomes red-hot, so 
he that wholly turns unto God, puts off 
all slothfulness and is changed into a 
new person. 

3. When one begins to grow lukewarm, 
he becomes afraid of a little labor and 
willingly receives comfort from outward 
things. But when he once begins to 
overcome himself perfectly, and to walk 
manfully in the way of God, he thinks 
lightly of those things which before were 
hard to be borne. 

1 Rom. 1 : 20. 2 Prov. 3 : 3, 4 ; Ps. 119 : 100. 



Consideration of Self 91 

CHAPTER V 

Of the Consideration of One's Self 

T r J|lJrE cannot trust much to ourselves, 1 
Wf^F b ecause g race an d understand- 
l^iprj ing are often wanting within us. 
We have but little light in us, and that 
which we have we quickly lose through 
our negligence. Often we fail too, to 
see how great our inward blindness is. 
We often do a bad act, and make a worse 
excuse. 2 Sometimes we are moved with 
passion, and think it is zeal. We con- 
demn little things in others and overlook 
greater matters in ourselves. 3 We are 
quick enough to feel and weigh what we 
suffer at the hands of others, but forget 
what others suffer from us. 

If you consider well your own works, 
you will find little cause to judge harshly 
of another. 

2. He who is a Christian at heart con- 
siders the care of himself before all other 
cares/ And he who diligently attends 

1 Jer. 17 : 5. 2 Ps. 141 : 4. 3 Matt. 7:5. 4 Matt. 16 : 26. 



<)2 Consideration of Self 

unto himself can easily keep silence con- 
cerning others. 

You will never be religious in your 
heart, unless you pass over other per- 
sons' matters with silence, and give a 
special attention to yourself. 

If you attend wholly unto God and 
yourself, you will feel little interest in 
other things. 1 

Where are you, when you are not with 
yourself ? And when you have enjoyed 
everything, what profit has it been to you 
if you have neglected yourself? If you 
desire peace of mind and true unity of 
purpose, you must put all other things 
behind you and look only upon yourself. 

3. It will profit you much, if you keep 
yourself free from all worldly care. You 
shall greatly lose if you are anxious about 
any worldly things. 

Think nothing great, nothing high, 
nothing pleasing, nothing acceptable, but 
only God himself, or that which is of 
God. Consider all comfort vain, 2 which 
you receive from any creature. 

1 1 Cor. 4:3; Gal. 1 : 10. 2 Eccl. 1 : 14. 



A Good Conscience 93 

A soul that loves God, despises all 
things that are inferior unto God. God 
alone is everlasting, and of infinite great- 
ness, filling all creatures ; the comfort of 
the soul, and the true joy of the heart. 



CHAPTER VI 

Of the Joy of a Good Conscience 

fHE glory of a good person is the ap- 
proval of a good conscience. 1 Have 
np> a good conscience and you shall 
always have joy. A good conscience is 
able to bear very much and is very cheer- 
ful in adversities. An evil conscience is 
always fearful and unquiet. 2 Your rest 
shall be sweet if your heart does not con- 
demn you. Never rejoice except when 
you have done well. 

Sinners never have true joy nor feel 
inward peace; because "there is no 
peace for the wicked/ 7 saith the Lord. 3 
And if any one should say to you, " We 
are in peace, no evil shall fall upon 

1 i Cor. i : 31. 2 Wisd. 17 : n. 3 Isa. 57 : 21. 



94 A Good Conscience 

us, 1 and who shall dare to hurt us ? " 
believe him not ; for the wrath of God 
shall arise suddenly, and their deeds shall 
be brought to naught, and their thoughts 
shall perish. 

2. It is no hard thing for one who loves 
the Lord to glory in tribulation ; for so to 
glory is to glory in the cross of the Lord. 2 
That glory which is given and received 
from men is short. 3 Sorrow always goes 
with the glory of the world. The glory 
of the good is in their consciences and not 
in the words of men. The gladness of 
the just is of God 4 and in God ; and their 
joy is of the truth. He who desires true 
and everlasting glory cares nothing for 
that which belongs to the world. And 
he who seeks the glory of the world, 
or does not despise it in his soul, shows 
that he has but little love for the glory 
of heaven. 

He enjoys great rest of heart, who cares 
neither for the praise of men nor for any 
blame they may bestow. 

Luke 12 : 19. 2 Rom. 8 ; Gal. 6 : 14. 

3 John 5 : 44. 4 2 Cor. 3 : 5. 



A Good Conscience 95 

3. He whose conscience is pure will 
easily be content and at peace. 

You are not holy because you are 
praised, nor unholy because you are 
blamed. What you are, that you are ; 
no words can make you greater than you 
are in the sight of God. If you know 
what you are in yourself, you will not 
care what others say of you. Man looks 
on the face, but God on the heart. 1 Man 
considers the deeds, but God weighs the 
intentions. 

To be always doing good, and to think 
little of one's self, is the sign of a humble 
soul. To rely upon no created being for 
our comforter is a sign of great purity and 
inward faith. 

4. He that does not depend upon the 
testimony of others shows that he has 
wholly committed himself to God. " For 
not he that commendeth himself is ap- 
proved (saith Saint Paul), but whom God 
commendeth. " 2 To walk in the heart 
with God, and not to be held in bondage, 
is the state of a spiritual person. 

1 1 Sam. 16 -.7. 2 2 Cor. 10 : 18. 



96 Jesus Above all Things 

CHAPTER VII 

Of the Love of Jesus Above all Things 

ILESSED is he who understands 1 
what it is to love Jesus and to de- 
spise himself for Jesus' sake. 

You ought to forsake every love for 
that of Jesus; 2 for Jesus will be loved 
alone above all things. 

The love of things created is deceitful 
and does not last ; the love of Jesus is 
faithful and lasts. 

He who clings unto creatures shall fall 
with that which is subject to fall ; he 
that clings unto Jesus shall stand firmly 
forever. 

Love him and keep him for your friend, 
for when all others forsake you he will 
not leave you nor suffer you to perish in 
the end. Sooner or later you must be 
separated from everything, whether you 
will or no. 

2. Keep close to Jesus both in life and 

1 Ps. 119 : 1, 2. 
2 Deut. 6:5; Song of Solomon 2 : 16 ; Matt. 22 : 37. 



Jesus Above all Things Q7 

in death, and commit yourself unto his 
promise, for when all fail he alone can 
help you. 

His love is of such a nature that he 
can have no rival ; but will have your 
heart alone and sit on his throne as King. 

If you could empty your heart of all 
worldly things, Jesus would willingly 
dwell with you. Whatever trust you re- 
pose in men, outside of Jesus, is little 
better than lost. 

To trust or lean upon the promises of 
men is like leaning upon a reed shaken 
by the wind. For we are like the grass, 
and we shall wither away as the flower 
of the field. 1 

3. You will soon be deceived if you 
regard only the outward appearance of 
others. For if you seek your comfort 
and your profit in others, you will often 
be deceived. If you seek Jesus in all * 
things, you shall surely find Jesus. But 
if you seek yourself, you shall find your- 
self, but it w 7 ill be to your destruction. 
For if one does not seek Jesus, he hurts 

1 Isa. 11 : 6. 

G 




gS Friendship with Jesus 

himself more than the whole world and 
all his enemies can hurt him. 



CHAPTER VIII 

Of Familiar Friendship with Jesus 

'HEN Jesus is with us all is well, 
and nothing seems difficult ; but 
when Jesus is not with us, every- 
thing is hard. 

When Jesus does not speak inwardly 
to us, all other comfort is worth nothing; 
but if Jesus speaks only one word, it 
gives us great consolation. 

Did not Mary rise immediately from 
the place where she wept when Martha 
said to her, "The Master is come and 
calleth for thee " ? l Happy hour ! When 
Jesus calls from tears to spiritual joy. 

How wretched you are without Jesus. 
How foolish and vain, if you desire any- 
thing before Jesus. Is it not a greater 
loss to lose him than to lose the whole 
world ? 2 

1 John ii : 28. 2 Matt. 16 : 26. 



Friendship with Jesus 99 

2. What can the world profit you with- 
out Jesus ? To be without Jesus is a 
grievous hell; but to be with Jesus is 
sweet paradise. If Jesus is with you no 
enemy shall be able to hurt you. 1 He 
who finds Jesus finds a good treasure, 2 
worth more than all else in the world. 
And he who loses Jesus loses more than 
the whole world. Poor indeed is he who 
lives without Jesus ; 3 and rich indeed is 
he who is dear to Jesus. 

3. It takes great skill to know how 
to hold converse with Jesus; and it re- 
quires great wisdom to know how to re- 
tain Jesus. Be humble and gentle and 
Jesus will be with you. 4 Be devout and 
silent and Jesus will stay with you. 

You will soon drive away Jesus, and 
lose his favor, if you turn aside to worldly 
things. And if you drive him from you and 
lose him, unto whom will you flee, and 
to whom will you turn for your friend ? 
You cannot well live without a friend ; 
and if you do not hold Jesus above all 

1 Rom. 8 : 25. 2 Matt. 13 : 44. 3 Luke 12 : 21. 
4 Prov. 3 : 17. 



ioo Friendship with Jesus 

friends, then indeed shall you be sad and 
desolate. Therefore you are not wise, 
if you trust or rejoice in any other friend. 1 
It is better to have all the world against 
us than to have Jesus offended with us. 
Among all therefore that are dear unto 
us, let Jesus alone be specially beloved. 

4. Love all for Jesus but Jesus for 
himself. Jesus Christ is to be loved 
above all others ; and he alone is good 
and faithful above all friends. For his 
sake let friends and foes be dear unto 
you ; and all are to be prayed for, that 
he would make them all to know and to 
love him. 2 Never desire to be highly 
praised or beloved, for that belongs only 
to God, who has none like unto himself. 

Neither must you desire that the heart 
of any one shall be set on you, nor must 
you set your heart on the love of any 
one ; but let Jesus be in you and in 'every 
good person. 

5. Be pure and free within and entan- 
gle not your heart with any creature. 
You ought to be naked and open before 

1 Gal. 6 : 14. 2 Matt. 5 : 44 ; Luke 6 : 27, 28. 



IV ant of all Comfort 101 

God, always carrying your heart pure 
toward him, if you would be free to con- 
sider and see how sweet the Lord is. 

For when the grace of God comes un- 
to you, you are made able for all things. 
And when it leaves you, you are poor 
and weak, and as it seems left only for 
affliction. In this case you must not be 
cast down nor despair ; but resign your- 
self calmly to the will of God, and what- 
ever comes upon you, endure it all for 
the glory of Jesus Christ ; for after win- 
ter follows summer, after night the day 
returns, and after a tempest there is a 
great calm. 

CHAPTER IX 

Of the Want of all Comfort 

|jTT is easy to despise human comfort, 1 
|n when we have that which is divine. 
^ It is very much, however, to be 
able to do without both human and di- 
vine comfort; and, for God's honor, to 

1 Phil. 2 : 12. 



102 Want of all Comfort 

be willing cheerfully to suffer sorrow of 
heart ; and to seek one's self in nothing, 
and not to regard one's own merit. 

What great thing is it, if at the coming 
of grace, you are cheerful and devout ? 
That hour is longed for by all persons. 
It is easy to ride when the grace of God 
carries. And what wonder if he feels 
not his burden, when he is supported by 
the Almighty and led by the sovereign 
Guide ? 

2. We always like to have something 
for our comfort ; and it is hard for one to 
strip himself of self. Nor must you think 
it hard when you are deserted by a friend, 
for at last we must all be separated from 
one another. 

3. You must strive long and hard 
within yourself, before you can learn 
fully to master yourself, and to draw 
your whole heart unto God. When a 
man trusts in himself, he soon relies upon 
human comforts. 

But a true lover of Christ, and a dili- 
gent follower of all virtue, does not fall 
back on such comforts, but prefers hard 



Want of all Comfort 103 

exercises, and to sustain severe labors 
for Christ. 

4. When therefore spiritual comfort is 
given you from God, receive it with 
thankfulness; but remember that it is 
the gift of God, and not deserved by 
you. Be not puffed up, nor too joyful, 
nor full of vain pride ; but rather be the 
more humble for such a gift, more cau- 
tious too, and guarded in all your actions ; 
for the precious hour will soon pass away, 
and temptation will follow. 

When consolation is taken from you, 
do not give up to despair ; but humbly 
and patiently wait for the heavenly vis- 
itation ; for God is able to give you back 
again more ample consolation. There is 
nothing new nor strange to them who 
are experienced in the ways of God ; for 
the great saints and ancient prophets 
often had experience in such kind of 
changes. 

5. Because this one who was enjoying 
divine grace said, " I said in my pros- 
perity I shall never be moved. M1 But 

1 Ps. 30 : 6-11. 



104 W ant of all Comfort 

when divine grace left him, he added 
this experience, " Thou didst turn thy 
face from me and I was troubled. " But^ 
in the midst of all his trouble he did not 
by any means despair, but more ear- 
nestly besought the Lord, and said, 
"Unto thee, O Lord, will I cry, and I 
will pray unto my God." At last his 
prayer was answered, and he testified, 
saying, M The Lord hath heard me, and 
taken pity on me ; the Lord is become 
my helper." But how ? H Thou hast 
turned," saith he, " my sorrow into joy, 
and thou hast compassed me about with 
gladness. " 

Now if great saints were so dealt with, 
we who are weak and poor ought not to 
despair, if we are sometimes hot and 
sometimes cold ; for the Spirit comes and 
goes according to his own good will. 1 
For which cause holy Job saith, " Thou 
visitest him early in the morning, and 
suddenly thou provest him." 2 

6. On what, then, can I hope, or in 
what should I trust, except in the great 

3 John 3:8. 2 Job 7 : 18. 



Want of all Comfort 105 

mercy of God alone, and in the only 
hope of heavenly grace ? I may have 
with me good men, either religious breth- 
ren or faithful friends ; I may have holy 
books, or beautiful treatises, or sweet 
psalms and hymns ; but all these can 
help but little, when grace forsakes me, 
and I am left in mine own poverty. At 
such time the best remedy is patience, 
and the denying of myself according to 
the will'of God. 1 

7. I have never found any one so re- 
ligious and devout, that he did not some- 
times have a withdrawing of grace, or 
feel some decrease of zeal. There was 
never a saint so happy, who first and 
last was not tempted. For he is not 
fitted to understand the ways of God if 
he has not gone through some trouble for 
God's sake. For temptation going before 
is likely to be a sign of comfort to follow. 
For heavenly comfort is promised unto 
those that are proved by temptations. 
"To him that overcometh," saith he, "1 
will give to eat of the tree of life. " * 

1 Luke 9 : 23. 2 Rev. 2 : 7. 



ic6 The Grace of God 

8. Divine consolation is given to us 
that we may be stronger to bear adversi- 
ties. Temptation also comes to us to 
prevent our being proud of any good. 

The devil never sleeps, l and our pas- 
sions are not dead ; therefore cease not 
to prepare yourself for the battle ; for 
your enemies are on your right hand and 
on your left and never rest. 

CHAPTER X 

Of Gratitude for the Grace of God 

Jfej||||HY do you seek rest when you 
II are born to labor ? ■ Rather seek 




patience than comfort, and the 
bearing of the cross rather than gladness. 3 
What one is there among you who 
would not be glad to receive spiritual 
joy and comfort, if he could always have 
it ? All the delights of the world and 
the pleasures of the flesh do not equal 
spiritual comforts. For all worldly de- 
lights are either vain or unclean ; but 

1 i Peter 5:8. 2 Job 5:7. 3 Luke 14 : 27. 



The Grace of God 107 

spiritual delights, which spring from vir- 
tue, and are given by God to all pure 
minds, are alone pleasant and honest. 
And yet no one can always enjoy these 
divine comforts as he desires, for temp- 
tation is ever near at hand. 

2. But too much freedom of mind and 
confidence in ourselves are very contrary 
to heavenly comfort. God does well for 
us in giving the grace of comfort ; but we 
do wrong in not returning all again unto 
God with thanksgiving. So long as we 
are unthankful to the Giver and do not 
return them wholly to the source and 
fountain, 1 the gifts of grace cannot rest 
within us. For grace always attends 
him who is duly thankful ; and from the 
proud shall be taken that which is given 
to the humble. 

3. I have no desire for that consolation 
which takes from me the tenderness of 
conscience ; nor do I seek those thoughts 
which lead to a proud mind. For all that 
is proud or high is not holy ; nor is all 
that is sweet, good ; nor every desire 

1 Ecclus. 1 : 5. 



io8 The Grace of God 

pure ; nor is everything that is dear unto 
us pleasing to God. I willingly accept 
that grace which makes me more hum- 
ble, fills me with more fear, and makes 
me more ready to give up myself. 

He who is taught by the gift of grace, 
and schooled by its withdrawing, will 
not dare to claim any good for himself, 
but will rather confess himself to be poor 
and naked. 

Give unto God that which is God's, 1 
and take to yourself that which is your 
own ; that is, give thanks to God for his 
grace ; and confess that to yourself alone 
belongs sin, and the punishment which 
is due to sin. 

4. Set yourself always in the lowest 
place 2 and the highest shall be given 
you ; for there can be no highest with- 
out the lowest. The chiefest saints be- 
fore God are the least in their own eyes ; 
and the more glorious they are, the hum- 
bler they are within themselves. Those 
who are full of truth and heavenly glory, 
have no wish for worldly glory. Those 

1 Matt. 22 : 21. 2 Luke 14 : 10. 



The Grace of God 109 

who are firmly settled and grounded in 
God, can in no way be proud. 

And they that give all good unto God, 
whatever they have received, do not 
seek glory one of another, but desire 
only that glory which is from God alone,, 
desiring above all things that God shall 
be praised in himself, and in all his 
saints ; and they are always striving for 
this very thing. 

5. Be thankful therefore for the least 
gift, so that you shall be prepared to re- 
ceive the greater. Receive the least as 
the greatest, and the most contempti- 
ble gift as of great value. If you will 
only think of the worth of the Giver no 
gift will seem little or of too slight value. 
For that cannot be little which is givea 
by the most high God. Even if God 
should give punishment and stripes, we 
ought to be thankful ; for everything 
that he does, or whatever he permits to 
happen unto us is for our good. 

Let him who desires to keep the grace 
of God be thankful for grace given, and 
patient when it is taken away ; let him 



i io Lovers of the Cross 

pray that it may return ; let him be 
cautious and humble, lest he lose it. 



CHAPTER XI 

That the Lovers of the Cross of 
Jesus are Few 

fESUS has many lovers of his heavenly 
kingdom, but few bearers of his 
cross. He has many who desire 
consolation, but few who wish for sor- 
row. He finds many companions of his 
table, but few who are willing to go 
hungry. All desire to rejoice with him, 
but few are willing to suffer anything 
for him. 

Many follow Jesus unto the feast, 1 but 
few to the sorrow in the garden of Geth- 
semane. Many revere his miracles, but 
few follow the shame of his cross. Many 
love Jesus so long as no troubles come 
to them. Many praise and bless him 
so long as they receive any consolation 
from him. But if Jesus hide himself, 

1 Luke 9 : 14 ; 22 : 41, 42. 



Lowers of the Cross III 

and leave them for only a little while, 
they either complain or become too de- 
jected of mind. 

2. But they who love Jesus for his 
own sake, and not for some special com- 
fort which they receive, bless him in all 
sorrow and anguish of heart, as well as 
in the state of greatest comfort. Even 
though he should never be willing to give 
them comfort, they would still praise him 
and wish always to be giving thanks. 

3. Oh, how powerful is the pure love 
of Jesus which is not mixed with self- 
interest or self-love ! 

Are not all selfish who are ever seek- 
ing consolations ? Do they not show 
they are lovers of themselves rather than 
of Christ who are always thinking of their 
own profit and advantage ? : Where can 
we find one who is willing to serve God 
for naught ? 

4. Rarely is any person found so spir- 
itual as to be willing to suffer the loss of 
all things. 

Where is any one to be found so poor 

1 Phil. 2 : 21. 



112 Lovers of the Cross 

in spirit and thoroughly free of all leaning 
on worldly things ? " From afar, yea from 
all the ends of the earth, is his value. " 1 

If you give all that you have it is as 
yet nothing. 

And if you practise great repentance 
still it is little. 

And if you attain to all knowledge you 
are still afar off. 

And if you are of great virtue and of 
very fervent devotion, yet there is much 
wanting, especially one thing which is 
most necessary for you. What is that ? 
That leaving all, you forsake yourself 
and go wholly from yourself 2 and keep 
nothing of self-love. And when you 
have done all that is to be done, so far 
as you know, remember that you have 
done nothing. 

5. Let him not think that of great 
weight, which others may think great, 
but let him in truth declare himself to be 
an unprofitable servant, as the Truth 
himself saith, " When you shall have 
done all things that are commanded you, 

1 Prov. 31 : 10, Latin version. 2 Matt. 16 : 24. 



The Royal Way 1 1 3 



say, We are unprofitable servants. M1 
Then will he be truly poor and naked in 
spirit, and say with the prophet, " I am 
desolate and afflicted. " 2 Yet no one is 
richer than that person, no one more pow- 
erful, no one more free ; for he knows 
how to leave himself and all things, and 
to set himself in the lowest place. 

CHAPTER XII 

Of the Royal Way of the Holy Cross 

fHIS seems a hard speech to many, 
" Deny thyself, take up thy cross, 
and follow Jesus." 3 But how 
much harder it will be to hear that last 
word, " Depart from me, ye cursed, into 
everlasting fire." 4 For those who now 
willingly hear and follow the Word, will 
have no fear 5 of hearing the sentence of 
everlasting damnation. This sign of the 
cross shall appear in the heaven when 
the Lord shall come to judgment. 

1 Luke 17 : 10. 2 Ps. 25 : 16. 3 Matt. 16 : 24. 
4 Matt. 25 : 41. 5 Ps. 112 : 7. 



114 The Royal Way 



Then all who have followed the cross, 
who in their lives have conformed them- 
selves unto Christ crucified, shall draw 
near unto Christ the judge without fear. 

2. Why, then, do you fear to take up 
the cross which leads you to a kingdom ? 
In the cross is salvation, in the cross is 
life, in the cross is protection against our 
enemies, in the cross is all heavenly 
sweetness, in the cross is strength of 
mind, in the cross is joy of spirit, in the 
cross is the height of virtue, in the cross 
is the perfection of goodness. There is 
no salvation for the soul nor hope of 
everlasting life, except in the cross. 
Take up, therefore, your cross and fol- 
low Jesus, 1 and you shall go into life 
everlasting. Jesus went before bearing 
his cross, 2 and died for you on the cross, 
that you might also bear your cross and 
desire to die on the cross with him. For 
if you be dead with him you shall also 
live with him, and if you are his com- 
panion in suffering you shall be partaker 
with him also in glory. 3 

1 Luke 14 : 27. 2 John 19 : 17. 3 2 Cor. 1 : 5. 



The Royal Way 1 1 5 



3. Behold ! everything consists in the 
cross and in our dying upon it ; for no 
other way leads unto eternal life and 
unto true inward peace, except the way 
of the cross and of daily self-denial. 

Go where you will, seek whatever 
you choose, you shall never find a higher 
way above nor a safer way below, than 
the way of the cross. 

No matter how well you may order 
things you shall always find that you 
must suffer somewhat, either willingly 
or against your will, and so everywhere 
you shall find the cross. For either you 
shall feel pain in your body, or shall 
suffer sorrow in your sour. 

4. Sometimes you will be forsaken of 
God and sometimes you shall be trou- 
bled by your neighbors ; and what is 
more, you will often be wearisome to 
yourself. Neither can you be freed or 
eased by any remedy or comfort, but 
so long as it pleases God you must bear 
it. For God intends that you shall 
suffer sorrow without comfort, and that 
you subject yourself wholly to him and 



Ii6 The Royal Way 



learn through sorrow to become more 
humble. 

No man can sympathize in his heart 
with the suffering of Christ who has not 
suffered the same himself. The cross, 
therefore, is always ready and waits 
everywhere for you. No matter where 
you run you cannot escape it, for wher- 
ever you go you carry yourself with you 
and shall always find yourself. Which- 
ever way you turn, both above and be- 
low, without and within, everywhere 
you shall find the cross ; and everywhere 
of necessity you must hold patience fast 
if you would have inward peace and en- 
joy an everlasting crown. 

5. If you bear the cross cheerfully it 
will bear you and lead you to the de- 
sired end where there shall be no suf- 
fering, though here we shall always have 
suffering. 

If you bear the cross unwillingly, you 
make it a burden, and increase your load, 
which you must bear. If you throw away 
one cross, you shall find another, which 
perhaps will be more heavy. 






The Royal Way 117 



6. Do you think you can escape that 
which no mortal man has ever been able 
to avoid ? Which of the saints in the 
world was without crosses and troubles ? 

For not even our Lord Jesus Christ was 
ever for one hour without the anguish of 
his passion, so long as he was on earth. 
" Christ " (saith he) \\ must needs suffer, 
and rise again from the dead, and so enter 
into his glory. " l Do you therefore seek 
any other way than the royal way, which 
is that of the cross ? 

7. Christ's whole life was a cross and 
martyrdom : and do you seek rest and 
joy for yourself ? You are deceived, you 
are deceived if you try to escape sorrow : 
for this whole mortal life is full of mis- 
eries, 2 and marked on every side with 
crosses. And the farther a person has 
advanced in the Spirit, the heavier are 
the crosses he often finds ; for the more 
he loves God, the more he grieves that 
he is kept from him. 

8. But such a person, though afflicted 
in so many ways, does not lack refresh- 

1 Luke 24 : 26. 2 Job 7 : 1. 



Ii8 The Royal Way 



ing comfort, for he sees how much good 
comes to him through the bearing of his 
own cross. For while he willingly puts 
himself under it, all the burden of tribu- 
lation is turned into the certainty of 
divine comfort. And the more the flesh 
is wasted by trouble, the more is the 
spirit strengthened by inward grace. 
Sometimes he is so comforted by the 
desire for sorrow and adversity, and for 
the love of bearing the cross of Christ, 
that he does not wish to be without grief 
and sorrow ; l believing that he will be 
the more acceptable unto God because 
of the more grievous things he is per- 
mitted to suffer for him. 

This is not the power of man, but it is 
the grace of Christ, which can and does 
so much in our frail bodies ; so that what 
naturally we abhor and flee from, we 
through fervor of spirit, learn to love. 

9. We do not naturally love to bear 
the cross, to love the cross, to punish the 
body and bring it under subjection, to 
flee from honors, to bear willingly the 

1 2 Cor. 4 : 16 ; 11 : 23-30. 



The Royal Way 119 



evil-speaking of others, to despise one's 
self and to wish to be despised, to endure 
all troubles and losses, and to desire no 
prosperity in this world. If you depend 
upon yourself, you will never be able to 
accomplish anything of this kind. 1 But 
if you trust in the Lord, strength shall 
be given you from heaven, and you shall 
master the world and the flesh. And if 
you are armed with faith, and signed 
with the cross of Christ, you will not 
tear your enemy the devil. 

10. Determine, therefore, like a good 
and faithful servant of Christ, to bear 
manfully the cross of your Lord, who 
out of love was crucified for you. Pre- 
pare yourself to bear many adversities 
and kinds of trouble in this life ; for it 
will be so with you, wherever you are, 
and no matter where you hide yourself 
you shall not escape it. Yea, so it must 
be ; and there is no remedy nor way of 
escape from tribulation and sorrow, but 
all must endure them. If you desire to 
be the friend of the Lord and to have 



: Cor. 3 : 5. 



120 The Royal Way 



part with him, you must drink of his 
cup 1 with hearty love. As for comforts, 
leave them to God ; let him do with them 
as pleases him best. 

Set yourself to suffer tribulations, and 
look upon them as the greatest comforts ; 
for the sufferings of this life, even if you 
could suffer them all, do not deserve the 
glory which is to come. 

ii. When you are able to look upon 
tribulation 2 as sweet, and you relish it 
for Christ's sake, then indeed is it welf 
with you, for you have found a paradise 
upon earth. 

As long as it is grievous for you to 
suffer, and you desire to escape, so long 
shall you be ill at ease, and the desire 
of escaping tribulation shall follow you 
everywhere. 

12. If you will prepare yourself to 
meet suffering and death, it will quickly 
be better with you and you shall find 
peace. Even if like the Apostle Paul you 
are caught up into " the third heaven, " 3 

1 Matt. 20 : 23 ; John 18 : 11. 
2 Rom. 5:3; Gal. 6 : 14. 3 2 Cor. 12 : 4. 



The Royal Way 1 21 



you will not be secure against suffering 
from adversity. •• I will show him " 
(saith Jesus) " how great things he must 
suffer for my name." 1 

It remains therefore for you to suffer, 
if you wish to love Jesus and to serve 
him constantly. 

13. Oh, that you were worthy to suffer 
something for the Name of Jesus ! 2 what 
great glory would remain unto your- 
self ; what joy would be among all God's 
saints ; what great profit also to your 
neighbor ! All persons recommend pa- 
tience, but there are few who are willing 
to suffer. How reasonable it is that you 
should cheerfully suffer some little for 
Christ's sake, since many suffer a great 
deal more for the world. 

14. Know for certain that you ought 
to welcome daily whatever trial or suffer- 
ing may come to you ; 3 and the more you 
do this, so much the more do you begin 
to live unto God. No one is fit to under- 
stand heavenly things, unless he submits 
himself to the bearing of adversities for 

1 Acts 9 : 16. 2 Acts 5 : 41. 3 Ps. 44 : 22. 



122 The Royal Way 



Christ's sake. Nothing is better for you 
in this world, nor more acceptable to God, 
than that you suffer cheerfully for Christ. 
And if you could choose, you ought rather 
to wish to suffer adversities for Christ 
than to enjoy many comforts ; for thus 
you are more like unto Christ, and more 
pleasing to all the saints. For our worth- 
iness and our growth in spiritual grace 
do not consist in many sweetnesses and 
comforts. 

15. Now if there had been any better 
thing, or more profitable to our salvation, 
than suffering, Christ surely would have 
showed it by word and example. For he 
plainly exhorted both the disciples that 
followed him, and also all who desire to 
follow him, to bear the cross, and said, 
" If any man will come after me, let him 
deny himself, and take up his cross, 
and follow me." 1 And so, when we 
have thoroughly read and examined all, 
this must be our conclusion: "that 
through much tribulation we must enter 
into the kingdom of God." 2 

1 Luke y : 23. 2 Acts 14 : 22. 






The Third Book 

Of Internal Consolation 



CHAPTER I 

Of Christ Speaking Inwardly to the 
Faithful Soul 

W WILL hearken what the Lord God 
11 will speak in me. 1 
^ Blessed is the soul that hears the 
Lord speaking within it, 2 and receives the 
word of consolation from his mouth. Let 
us ever recall and attain the spirit of the 
child prophet, who said, "Speak, Lord ; 
for thy servant heareth." 

Blessed are the ears that gladly receive 
the Divine whisperings, 3 and give no heed 
to the whisperings of this world. 

Blessed indeed are those ears which 
listen not to the voice of the world, but 
only to the Truth teaching within. 

Blessed are the eyes which are shut to 
outward things, but are fixed on things 
within. 

Ps. 85 : 8. 2 1 Sam. 3:9. 3 Matt. 13 : 16, 17. 

125 



126 Christ Speaking Inwardly 

Blessed are they who think deeply of 
inward things and try to prepare them- 
selves more and more by daily exercises 
for the receiving of heavenly secrets. 

Blessed are they who are glad to have 
time to spare for God, and who shake off 
all worldly hindrances. 

2. Consider these things, O my soul, 
and shut the door of thy worldly desires, 
that thou mayest hear what the Lord thy 
God shall speak in thee. 1 

Thus says God, I am thy salvation, 3 
thy peace, and thy life : keep thyself with 
me and thou shall find peace. 

Let go all passing things and seek 
those that are everlasting. What are 
all worldly things but snares ? And 
what can all human beings avail you if 
you are forsaken by the Creator ? Bid 
farewell therefore to everything else, 
and strive to please your Creator, and 
be faithful unto him, that you may be 
able to secure true blessedness. Blessed 
is every one whose God is the Lord in 
whom he trusts. 

1 Ps. 85 : 8. 2 Ps. 35 : 3- 



Truth Speaketh Inwardly 127 

CHAPTER II 

That the Truth Speaketh Inwardly y 
Without Noise of Words 

PEAK, Lord, for thy servant hear- 
eth. 1 I am thy servant, grant 

yj& that I may understand thy words. 2 
Incline my heart to the words of thy 
mouth : let thy speech descend upon me 
as the dew. 

The children of Israel in times past said 
unto Moses, "Speak thou unto us, and 
we will hear : let not the Lord speak unto 
us lest we die." 3 Not so, Lord, not so, 
I beseech thee ; but rather with the 
prophet Samuel, I humbly pray, " Speak, 
Lord, for thy servant heareth." Let not 
Moses nor any of the prophets speak unto 
me, but rather do thou speak, O Lord 
God, who inspirest and enlightenest al) 
the prophets ; for thou alone without 
them canst perfectly instruct me, while 
they without thee can profit nothing. 

2. They utter many words indeed, but 

1 1 Sam. 3:9. 2 Ps. 119 : 125. 3 Exod. 20 : 19. 



128 Truth Speaketh Inwardly 

they cannot give the Spirit. They speak 
beautifully, but if thou art silent, they do 
not stir the heart. They teach the let- 
ter, but thou openest the sense : they 
bring forth mysteries, but thou unlockest 
their meaning. They declare thy com- 
mandments, but thou helpest us to obey 
them. They point out the way, but thou 
givest us strength to walk in it. They 
work only outwardly, but thou instruct- 
est and enlightenest the heart. They 
water, but thou givest the increase. 
They cry aloud in words, but thou givest 
understanding to us. 

3. I ask not Moses therefore to speak 
unto me, but that thou, O Lord my God, 
may speak the everlasting truth ; lest I 
die, and prove unfruitful, if I be only 
warned outwardly and not from within. 
It shall be my condemnation if I hear and 
do not love, if I believe and do not ob- 
serve. Speak, therefore, Lord, for thy 
servant heareth ; for thou hast the words 
of eternal life. 1 Speak thou unto me to 
the comfort, however imperfect, of my 

1 John 6 : 68. 



Words Heard with Humility 129 

soul, and to the improvement of my 
whole life, and to thy everlasting praise 
and glory and honor. 



CHAPTER III 

That the Words of God are to be Heard 

with Humility, and that Many 

Weigh Them Not 

||lf ; Jp)Y son > hear my words, which are 
YJ'§mf °f the g rea *est sweetness, sur- 
^i^^ passing all the knowledge of the 
wise men of this word. " My words are 
spirit and life/' l and not to be weighed 
by the understanding of man. They are 
not to be drawn forth for idle praise, but 
to be heard in silence, and to be received 
in all humility and great affection. 

And I said, Blessed is the man whom 
thou shalt instruct, O Lord, and shalt 
teach out of thy law, that thou mayest 
give him rest from the evil days, 2 and 
that he shall not be sorrowful upon earth. 

1 John 6 : 63. 2 Ps. 94 : 12, 13. 

I 



130 Words Heard with Humility 

2. I taught the prophets from the be- 
ginning 1 (saith the Lord), and ceased not, 
even to this day, to speak to all ; but 
many are hardened, and do not listen to 
my voice. Nearly every one is more 
willing to listen to the world than to God, 
and prefer to follow the desires of their 
own flesh, rather than to try to please 
God. The world promises things that are 
temporal and mean, and we eagerly serve 
it : I promise things that are high and eter- 
nal ; and yet the hearts of men are heed- 
less to what 1 say. Who is there that in 
all things serves and obeys me with as 
much care as he serves the world ? 2 If 
you would know the cause, listen. 

For a small sum we will undertake a 
long journey ; but for everlasting life 
many will hardly lift a foot from the 
ground. Men eagerly seek the most piti- 
ful reward ; they will strive shamefully 
for a small amount of money ; a slight 
promise is sufficient to make them toil 
day and night. 

3. But, alas! for a good that never 

1 Heb. 1:1. 2 Comp. Isa. 23 : 4. 



Words Heard with Humility 131 

changes, for a reward beyond all value, 
for the highest honor, and for glory that 
has no end, they begrudge the least effort. 
Be ashamed, therefore, thou slothful and 
complaining servant, that they are more 
eager to travel the road to destruction 
than thou art to travel the way to eternal 
life. They rejoice more in vanity than 
thou dost in the truth. They are often dis- 
appointed in their hope ; but my promise 
deceives no one, 1 and he that trusts in 
me is not sent away empty. What I 
have promised, I will give ; what I have 
said I will do ; if only thou remainest 
faithful in my love even to the end. I 
am the rewarder of all who are good 2 and 
of those who are devoted to me. 

4. Write thou my words in thy heart, 
and meditate upon them ; for in time of 
temptation they will be needed by thee. 
What thou dost not understand now when 
reading, thou shalt understand in the day 
of my coming. I visit my chosen in two 
ways — namely, with temptation and with 

1 Rom. 1 : 16 ; Matt. 24 : 35. 
2 Rev. 2 : 23 ; Matt. 5:6; 30 : 21. 



132 Words Heard with Humility 

consolation. And daily I read two les- 
sons to them, one to reprove their vices, 
another to exhort them to increase all 
their virtues. He that hath my words 
and despiseth them, shall be condemned 
by me in the last day. 

5 . A Prayer to Implore the Grace of De 
votion. 

O Lord, my God, thou art to me all 
that is good. And who am 1, that I 
should dare to speak to thee ? l 1 am thy 
poorest, meanest servant, and a most vile 
worm, much more poor and contemptible 
than I can or dare express. Yet do thou 
remember, O Lord, that I am nothing, 
have nothing, and can do nothing. Thou 
alone art good, just, and holy ; thou 
canst do all things, thou accomplishes! 
all things, thou fillest all things, only the 
sinner thou leavest empty. Remember 
thy mercies, and fill my heart with thy 
grace, thou who wilt not that thy work 
shall be void and in vain. 

6. How can I bear up myself in this 

1 Gen. 18 : 27 ; Ps. 18 : 18, 23. 



Humility and Truth 133 

miserable life, unless thou strengthenest 
me with thy mercy and grace? Turn 
not thy face away from me ;}. delay not 
thy coming ; withdraw not thy consola- 
tion, lest my soul become as a thirsty 
land. Teach me, O Lord, to do thy will ; 2 
teach me to live worthily and humbly in 
thy sight ; for thou art my wisdom, thou 
dost truly know me, and didst know me 
before the world was made, and before I 
was born into the world. 



CHAPTER IV 

That we Ought to Live in Humility and 
Truth before God 

:|TpY son, walk thou before me in 
"\ s 1 v tru th> an( 3 always seek me in 
^^#=* simplicity of thy heart. 3 He that 
walks before me in truth, shall be de- 
fended from the assaults of evil, and the 
truth shall set him free 4 from those who 
would lead him astray, and from the 

1 Ps. 69 : 17. 2 Ps. 143 : 10. 

3 Gen. 17 : 1 ; Wisd. 1:1. 4 John 8 : 32. 



134 Humility and Truth 

slanders of unjust men. If the truth 
shall have made thee free, thou shalt be 
free indeed, and shalt not care for the 
vain words of men. 

O Lord, it is true. Let it be with me, 
as thou sayest, let thy truth teach me, 
guard me, and keep me safe to the end. 
Let it set me free from all evil affection 
and unholy love ; and I shall walk with 
thee in full liberty of heart. 

2. I will teach thee (saith the Truth) 
those things which are right and pleasing 
in my sight. Reflect with great dis- 
pleasure and grief on your sins ; and 
never think yourself to be anything, be- 
cause of any good works. You are in 
truth a sinner ; you are subject to and 
hindered by many passions. Of your- 
self you can do nothing ; very quickly 
you are cast down, quickly overcome, 
quickly confused, quickly defeated. You 
have nothing in which you can glory, 1 
but many things for which you ought to 
consider yourself vile ; for you are far 
weaker than you are able to understand. 

1 i Cor. 4 : 7. 



Humility and Truth 1 35 

3. And therefore let nothing which 
you do seem much unto you. Consider 
nothing great, nothing precious and won- 
derful, nothing worthy of esteem, noth- 
ing high, nothing deserving praise, and 
to be desired, but that which is eternal. 

Be pleased above all things with the 
eternal truth ; be always displeased with 
your own extreme unworthiness. Fear 
nothing, blame nothing, flee nothing, so 
much as your vices and sins, which ought 
to be more displeasing to you than any 
worldly loss whatever. Some do not try 
to walk honestly in my sight, 1 but out of 
curiosity and pride desire to know my 
secrets, and while neglecting themselves 
and their own salvation, try to under- 
stand the high things of God. And when 
I oppose myself to them, they often be- 
cause of their pride and curiosity fall in- 
to great temptations and sins. 

4. Fear the judgments of God, and 
dread the wrath of the Almighty. Dis- 
cuss not the works of the Most High, but 
search out diligently your offenses, the 

1 Ecclus. 3 : 21-23 ! 2 Cor. 2 : 17. 



136 Effect of Divine Love 

great things in which you have offended, 
and the many good things you have neg- 
lected. Some rest their devotion in 
books, some in pictures, some in outward 
signs and figures. Some have me in their 
mouths, but little of me in their hearts. 1 
And there are others who with their 
understandings enlightened, and cleansed 
in their affection, always pant after 
eternal things ; they are unwilling to 
hear of the things of this world. 2 For the 
Spirit of truth teaches them to despise 
earthly, and to love heavenly things, to 
neglect the world, and to desire heaven 
all the day and night. 3 

CHAPTER V 

Of the Wonderful Effect of Divine Love 

M BLESS thee, O heavenly Father, 
I] Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, be- 
^ cause thou dost remember such a poor 
creature as I. 

O Father of mercies, and God of all 

1 Isa. 29 : 13. 2 Ps. 25 : 5. 3 Ps. 1 : 2. 



Effect of Divine Love 137 

comfort, 1 thanks be unto thee, who some- 
times refreshest me with thy comfort, 
unworthy as I am of all comfort. 

I will always bless and glorify thee, 
with thine only-begotten Son and the 
Holy Ghost, the Comforter, for ever 
and ever. 

Ah, Lord God, thou lover of my soul, 
when thou comest into my heart, all that 
is within me shall rejoice. 

Thou art my glory and the inspirer of 
my heart ; thou art my hope and refuge 
in all my troubles. 2 

2. But because I am still weak in love, 
and imperfect in virtue, I need to be 
strengthened and comforted by thee ; 
come often to me, therefore, and instruct 
me with all holy discipline. 

Free me from evil passions, and cure 
my heart of all unholy affections ; that 
being inwardly cured and thoroughly 
cleansed, 1 shall become fit to love, brave 
to suffer, strong to persevere. 

3. Love indeed is a great thing, a 
great and thorough good ; it makes light 

1 2 Cor. 1:3. 2 Ps. 32 : 7 ; 59 : 16. 



1 38 Effect of Divine Love 

everything that is heavy, and even all 
that is uneven. No load is a burden 
when carried by love, 1 and that which is 
bitter becomes sweet and pleasant. The 
noble love of Jesus moves a man to do 
great things, and makes him long for 
what is more perfect. Love lifts us up, 
and will not be kept down by anything 
low and mean. 

Love desires to be free, and cleared 
from all worldly affections, so that its 
work within us may not be hindered ; 
and that it may not be entangled by any 
brief prosperity, or injured by any ad- 
versity. There is nothing sweeter, noth- 
ing braver, nothing higher, nothing broad- 
er, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller 
nor better, in heaven and earth, than 
love ; because it is born of God, and 
can rest only in God, who is above all 
created things. 

4. He who loves will fly and run and 
rejoice ; he is free and cannot be bound. 
He gives all for all, and has all in all ; 
because he rests in One who is high 

1 Matt. 11 : 30. 



Effect of Divine Love 1 39 

above all things, and from whom all that 
is good flows. 

He has no respect for gifts, but looks 
from the gifts unto the giver. 

Love often knows no bounds, but is 
fervent beyond all measure. 

Love feels no burden, thinks nothing 
of trouble, attempts to do what is beyond 
its strength, and pleads no excuse be- 
cause of impossibility ; for it thinks all 
things are lawful and all things possible 
for itself. And because of this it is able 
to undertake all things, and it completes 
many things, before which he who does 
not love will faint and lie down. 

5. Love is watchful, and even when 
sleeping does not slumber. 1 Love may 
grow weary, but it does not become 
tired ; it may be hard pressed, but it 
does not yield ; it may be alarmed, but 
it is not confused. It always carries a 
bright flame and burning torch, and forces 
its way upward and through all obstacles. 
Every one who loves knows what the cry 
of this voice is. For it is a loud cry in the 

1 Rom. 8 : 19. 



I 4o Effect of Divine Love 

ears of God, this strong affection of the 
soul which says, "My God, my love, 
thou art all mine, and I am all thine. " 

6. Increase love within me, that I may 
taste how sweet it is, and as it were 
bathe myself in thy love. Let me be 
fully possessed by love, so that I shall 
rise above myself, through exceeding 
warmth and admiration. Let me sing 
the sdng of love, let me follow thee, my 
Beloved, on high, let my soul rejoice 
through love and spend itself in thy 
praise. Let me love thee more than 
myself, and love myself only for thee ; 
and in thee love all that truly love thee, 
as I am commanded by the law of love 
which comes from thyself. 

7. Love is active, sincere, affectionate, 
pleasant, and amiable ; courageous, pa- 
tient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, 
manly, and never seeking to advance it- 
self. 1 For whenever a person seeks to ad- 
vance himself, he falls away from love. 2 

Love is careful, humble, and upright ; 
not yielding to ease, nor to levity, nor 

1 1 Cor. 13 : 5. * z Cor. 10 : 33 ; Phil. 2 : 21. 



Proving a True Lover 141 

heeding vain things ; it is sober, pure, 
steady, quiet, and guarded at every point. 
Love is subject, and obedient to its supe- 
riors ; despising and mean unto itself, de- 
vout and thankful unto God, trusting and 
hoping always in him, even when God 
imparts no taste of sweetness unto it ; for 
none can live in love without sorrow. 

8. He who is not prepared to suffer all 
things, and to do the will of God, is not 
worthy to be called a lover of God. A 
lover ought to embrace willingly all that 
is hard and distasteful for the sake of his 
Beloved, and never to turn away from 
him on account of any opposition. 

CHAPTER VI 

Of the Proving of a True Lover 

l^lBjY son, you are not yet a brave 
W^Wi- an( ^ ^oughtful lover. 

Wherefore sayest thou this, O Lord ? 
Because for a slight opposition you 



142 Proving a True Lover 

give over your undertakings, and are 
too eager to seek consolation. A brave 
lover stands firm in temptations, and 
gives no heed to the cunning persua- 
sions of the enemy. As I please him 
in prosperity, so I am not unpleasing to 
him in adversity. 1 

2. A wise lover does not care so much 
for the gift of the one who loves him as 
he does for the love of the giver. He 
sets the good will of the giver above the 
value of the gift, and sets all gifts below 
him whom he loves. A noble-minded 
lover rests not in the gift, but in me 
above every gift. All therefore is not 
lost, if you sometimes think less of me 
and my saints than you would. 

That good and sweet affection which 
you sometimes feel, is the effect of grace 
present, and a sort of foretaste of your 
heavenly home : but you must not lean 
too much on it, for it comes and goes. 
It is a strong sign of virtue, and it shall 
bring you great reward, if you strive 
against evil thoughts which may befall 

1 Phil. 4 : 11-13. 



Proving a True Lover 143 

you and reject 1 with scorn the sugges- 
tions of the devil. 

3. Be not troubled therefore by any 
strange fancies which may crowd into 
your mind. Hold to your purpose with 
courage, and keep an upright intention 
toward God. 

Nor is it a mistake that you are some- 
times filled with spiritual joy, and then 
return again unto the usual vanities of 
your heart. For you suffer them un- 
willingly rather than commit them ; and 
so long as they displease you, and you 
strive against them, reward and not loss 
shall be your portion. 

4. Remember that the enemy of your 
souls strives by all possible means to hin- 
der your good desires, and to turn you 
from all religious exercises ; particularly, 
from the reverent regard of God's saints, 
from the devout celebration of my Pas- 
sion, from the profitable remembrance of 
your sins, from the guard of your own 
heart, and from the firm resolve of ad- 
vancing in virtue. He suggests many 

1 Matt. 4 : 10. 



144 Proving a True Lover 

evil thoughts to you, striving to caue 
weariness and horror in you, that he 
may draw you away from prayer and 
holy reading* He is displeased with hum- 
ble confession ; and if he could, he would 
cause you to cease from holy commun- 
ion. Do not trust him nor heed him, 
although he often sets snares and deceit 
to entrap you. Accuse him of it ; when 
he suggests evil and unclean thoughts 
unto you, say unto him, 

" Away, thou unclean spirit ! ' blush, 
thou miserable wretch ! most unclean 
art thou that bringest such things unto 
mine ears. Begone from me, thou wicked 
seducer ! thou shalt have no part in me : 
but Jesus shall be with me as a strong 
warrior, and thou shalt stand confounded. 
I had rather die, and undergo any tor- 
ment, than consent unto thee. Hold thy 
peace and be silent ; I will hear thee no 
more, though thou shouldst work me 
many troubles. ' The Lord is my light 
and my salvation, whom shall I fear ? ' * 
Though an host of men rose against me, 

1 Matt. 4 : io ; 16 : 23. 2 Ps. 27 : 1. 



Grace Guarded by Humility 145 

yet should not my heart be afraid. The 
Lord is my helper and my Redeemer. " 

5. Fight like a good soldier; 1 and if 
you sometimes fall through weakness, 
rouse yourself with greater strength than 
before, trusting in my more abundant 
grace ; and take great care to avoid pride 
and vain pleasing of yourself. 

Pride brings many into error, and 
sometimes causes them a blindness that 
is almost incurable. Let the fall of the 
proud, who thus foolishly presume on 
their own strength, serve as a warning 
to you and keep you always humble. 

CHAPTER VII 

That Grace is to be Guarded by Humility 

M^Y son, it is safer and more profit- 
jyl \W; able to you to hide the grace of 
^fe§^ devotion, and not to boast or 
speak too much thereof ; but rather to 
despise yourself, and to fear lest the 
grace has been given to one unworthy 

1 Ps. 27 : 14 ; 1 Tim. 6 : 12. 

K 



146 Grace Guarded by Humility 

of it. You must not cling too earnestly 
to this affection, for it may be quickly 
changed. When you are in grace, think 
how miserable and needy you were when 
without grace. Nor does thy progress 
in spiritual life consist only in the grace 
of comfort ; but rather that you receive 
with humility, self-denial, and patience, 
the withdrawing of such grace ; provided 
you do not then become listless in the 
exercise of prayer, nor suffer yourself to 
neglect the rest of your usual duties. 

Cheerfully perform what lies in you, 
to the best of your power and under- 
standing ; and do not wholly neglect 
yourself because of the dryness and anx- 
iety of mind which you feel. 

2. There are many who become im- 
patient or neglectful, when things do not 
go well with them. For the way of man 
is not always under his control, 1 but it 
belongs to God to give, and to comfort, 
when he will, and how much he will, and 
whom he will, as far as it pleases him 
and no more. Some unreasonable per- 

1 Jer. 10 : 23 ; Rom. 9 : 16. 



Grace Guarded by Humility 147 

sons, because of their over-earnest de- 
sire for the grace of a devoted life, 
mislead themselves ; since they try to 
do more than they are able to perform, 
forgetting their own weakness, and fol- 
lowing the desire of their heart rather 
than the judgment of their reason. And 
through dwelling on greater matters than 
was pleasing to God, they quickly lost 
their grace. 

It may be said that those who would 
build their nests 1 in heaven became help- 
less and vile outcasts, so that being hum- 
bled ajid impoverished, they might learn 
not to fly with their own wings, but to 
trust under my feathers. Those who are 
new and inexperienced in the way of the 
Lord may easily be deceived and broken 
to pieces, unless they govern themselves 
by the counsel of discreet persons. 

3. If they prefer to follow their own 
notions rather than to trust others who 
are more experienced, their end will be 
evil, unless they are willing to be drawn 
away from their own conceit. It is sel- 

1 Isa. 14 : 13. 



148 Grace Guarded by Humility 

dom that those who are wise in their 
own conceit are willing humbly to be 
governed by others. It is better to have 
a small portion of good sense, with hu- 
mility 1 and a weak understanding, than 
to have great treasures of science with 
vain self-conceit. It is better for you to 
have little, than much of that which 
makes you proud. 

He does not act wisely who gives him- 
self wholly over to joy, forgetting his for- 
mer helplessness, and that chastened 
fear of the Lord which is afraid of los- 
ing the grace that has been offered. Nor 
again is he very bravely wise who, in 
time of adversity or any depression, 
yields at once too much to despairing 
thoughts, and reflects and thinks of me 
less trustfully than he ought. 

4. He who feels over secure 2 in time 
of peace is often found dejected and full 
of fears in time of war. If you could al- 
ways continue humble and moderate 
within yourself, and also could thorough- 
ly moderate and govern your spirit, you 

1 Ps. 16 : 2, 10. 2 1 Thess. 5 : 6. 



Grace Guarded by Humility 149 

would not fall so quickly into danger and 
go astray. 

It is wise for you when fervor of spirit 
is kindled within you, to think how it 
will be when that light shall leave 
you. And when this takes place, then 
remember that the light may return 
again, which, as a warning to yourself, 
and for mine own glory, I have with- 
drawn for a time. 1 

5. Such trials are often more profita- 
ble to you, than if everything prospered 
according to your wishes. No man's 
worthiness is to be estimated by the 
number of visions and comforts which 
he may have, or by his skill in the Scrip- 
tures, or by the high station in which he 
may be placed. If he is grounded in 
true humility, and is full of divine char- 
ity ; if he is always purely and sincerely 
seeking God's honor ; if he thinks noth- 
ing of, but unfeignedly despises himself, 2 
and is even glad to be despised and made 
low by others, rather than be honored 
by them, then indeed is he truly worthy. 

1 Job 7. 2 Ps. 84 : 10. 



150 A Mean Conceit of Ourselves 

CHAPTER VIII 

Of a Mean Conceit of Ourselves in the 
Sight of God 

|tfp[HALL I who am but dust and ashes 
\ speak unto my Lord ? l If I think 
^p myself to be anything more, be- 
hold, thou standest against me, and my 
sins bear true witness, and I cannot con- 
tradict it. 

But if I abase myself, and reduce my- 
self to nothing, and shrink from all self- 
esteem, and grind myself to the dust 
that 1 am, then will thy grace be favor- 
able to me, and thy light will be near 
unto my heart ; and all self-esteem, no 
matter how little, shall be swallowed up 
and perish forever in the valley of my 
nothingness. 

It is there that thou showest thyself 
unto me, what I am, what I have been, 
and whither I am going ; for I am noth- 
ing, and did not know it. If I am left to 
myself, behold, I become nothing but 

1 Gen. 18 : 27. 



A Mean Conceit of Ourselves 151 

mere weakness ; but if thou look upon 
me for an instant, I am immediately made 
strong, and am filled with new joy. And 
great is the marvel, that I am so sud- 
denly lifted up and so graciously em- 
braced by thee, when of my own weight 
I am always sinking downward. 

2. Thy love is the cause of all this, 
freely preventing me, and relieving me 
in so many troubles, guarding me also 
from pressing dangers, and as I may truly 
say, snatching me from evils without 
number. For indeed by wrongfully lov- 
ing myself, I lost myself; 1 and by seek- 
ing thee alone, and purely loving thee, I 
have found both myself and thee, and 
through that love have more deeply 
reduced myself to nothing. Because 
thou, O dearest Lord, dealest with me 
above my merits, and above all that I 
dare hope or ask. 

3. Blessed be thou, my God ; for al- 
though I am unworthy of any benefits, yet 
thy royal bounty and infinite goodness 
never cease to do good even to the un- 

1 John 12 : 25. 



152 Things Referred to God 

grateful, 1 and to those who are turned fur 
away from thee. Turn thou us unto thee, 
that we may be thankful, humble, and 
devout, for thou art our salvation, our 
courage, and our strength. 



CHAPTER IX 

That All Tilings are to be Referred Unto 
God, as their Last End 

f7T-W<]Y son, I ought to be your supreme 
/ \/ M and final end, if you desire to be 
— ~ — truly blessed. This intention on 
your part will purify your affections, 
which are too often strongly inclined to 
selfishness and unto others. For if you 
seek anything yourself, you immediately 
faint and dry up. I would therefore that 
you should refer all things chiefly unto 
me, for I am he who has given all. Think 
of everything as flowing from the highest 
Good, and therefore all must be brought 
back to me as their original. 

2. The small and the great, the poor 

1 Matt. 5 : 45. 



Things Referred to God 153 

and the rich, draw from me, as from a 
living fountain, the water of life ;* they 
who willingly and freely serve me shall re- 
ceive grace for grace. But he who desires 
to glory in things not of me, 2 or who takes 
pleasure in some private good, is not 
grounded in true joy, nor is he enlarged 
in his heart, but shall in many ways be 
hindered and troubled. You ought there- 
fore to ascribe nothing good to yourself, 
nor to attribute goodness unto any man ; 
but give all unto God, without whom man 
has nothing. I have given you all, 3 and 
my will is to have you all again ; and 
with great strictness do I exact from you 
a return of thanks. 

3. This is the truth which puts to flight 
all vain glory. And if heavenly grace 
and true charity enter in, there will be 
no envy nor narrowness of heart, neither 
will self-love busy itself. For divine 
charity overcomes all things, and en- 
larges all the powers of the soul. If you 
judge rightly, you will rejoice in me 
alone, and will hope in me alone ; for 

1 John 4 : 14. 2 * Cor. 1 : 29. 3 1 Cor. 4 : 6. 



1 54 The World and God 



none is good except God alone, 1 who is 
to be praised above all things, and to be 
blessed in all. 



CHAPTER X 

That to Despise the World and Serve 
God is Sweet 

SOW I will speak again, O Lord, and 
/ will not be silent ; I will say in the 
ears of my God, my Lord, and my 
King, who is on high : " Oh, how great 
is the abundance of thy goodness, O 
Lord, which thou hast laid up for them 
that fear thee." 2 

But what art thou to those who love 
thee? What art thou to those who serve 
thee with their whole heart ? Truly the 
sweetness of contemplating thee is un- 
speakable, which thou bestowest on them 
that love thee. When I was not, thou 
madest me ; when I went far astray from 
thee, thou broughtest me back again, 
that I might serve thee ; and in this 

1 Matt. 19 : 17 ; Luke 18 : 12. 2 Ps. 31 : 19. 



The World and God 155 

especially thou hast shown me the sweet- 
ness of thy love, and hast commanded 
me to love thee. 1 

2. O Fountain of love unceasing, what 
shall I say concerning thee ? How can 
I forget thee, who hast vouchsafed to 
remember me, even after I had wasted 
away and perished? Thou hast shown 
mercy to thy servant beyond all expecta- 
tion ; and hast exhibited favor and loving- 
kindness beyond all I deserve. What 
return shall I make to thee for this loving- 
kindness ? 2 For it is not allowed to all to 
give up all, to renounce the world, and 
to try to live a life of religious retirement. 
Is it any great thing that I should serve 
thee, 3 whom the whole creation is bound 
to serve? 

To serve thee ought not to seem much 
to me ; but it does appear much to me, 
and it is wonderful that thou art willing 
to receive into thy service one so poor 
and unworthy as I am, and to make me 
one with thy beloved servant. 

1 Gen. 1 : 27 ; Ps. 119 : 73 ; Luke 15. 
2 Ps. 116 : 1. 3 Judg. 16 : 15. 



156 rite World and God 

3. Behold, all things which I have are 
thine, and all the means by which I serve 
thee. 1 And yet it is thou that servest 
me rather than I that serve thee. 

Behold, the heaven and the earth 
which thou hast created for the service 
of man, are ready at hand, and daily per- 
form whatever thou hast commanded. 
And this is little : Thou hast moreover 
also appointed angels to minister to man. 2 
But it far excels all this, that thou thy- 
self hast vouchsafed to serve man, and 
hast promised that thou wouldest give 
thyself unto him. 

4. What shall I give thee for all these 
thousands of benefits ? I would that I 
could serve thee all the days of my life. 
I would I were able, even for one day, 
to do thee some worthy service. Truly 
thou art worthy of all service, of al 
honor, and everlasting praise. Truly 
thou art my Lord, and I am thy poor serv- 
ant, who am bound to serve thee with all 
my might, and I never ought to be weary 
of praising thee. And it is this 1 wish to 

1 1 Cor. 4:7. 2 Ps. 91 : 11 ; Heb. i : 14. 



: 



The World and God 157 

do, it is this I desire : and whatever is 
lacking in me, do thou, I beseech thee, 
vouchsafe to supply. 

5. It is a great honor and a great glory- 
to serve thee and to despise all things 
for thee. For great grace shall be given 
to those who have willingly subjected 
themselves to thy most holy service. 
They who for the sake of thy love have 
renounced all worldly delights shall find 
the sweetest consolations of the Holy 
Ghost. 1 They who for thy name's sake 
enter into the narrow way, 2 and have 
left off all worldly care, shall attain great 
comfort of mind. 

6. Oh, sweet and delightful service of 
God, 3 by which a man is made truly 
free and holy ! Oh, sacred state of re- 
ligious service which makes a man equal 
to the angels, pleasing to God, terrible 
to devils, and worthy to be commended 
by all the faithful ! Oh, welcome serv- 
ice and ever to be desired, in which we 
are rewarded with the greatest good and 

1 Matt. 19 : 29. 2 Matt. 7 : 14. 

3 Matt. 11 : 30 ; 1 John 5 : 3. 




158 Longings and Desires 

reach a joy which shall remain forever 
with us ! 



CHAPTER XI 

That the Longings and Desires of Our 
Hearts are to be Examined 

and Moderated 

$fflf( son, you have still many things 
to learn which you have not yet 
£* well learned. 

What are these, O Lord ? 

That you frame your desires 1 wholly 
according to my good pleasure, and that 
you be not a lover of yourself but an 
earnest follower of my will. Many long- 
ings and desires often inflame you and 
drive you forward with violence ; but 
think whether you are not moved rather 
for your own advantage than for my 
honor. If I am the cause you will be well 
content whatever I shall order, but if 
there lurk in you any self-seeking, 2 be- 

1 Ps. 108 : 1 ; Matt. 6 : 10. 2 Phil. 2 : 21. 



Longings and Desires 1 59 

hold, it is that which hinders you and 
weighs you down. 

2. Beware, therefore, that you do not 
lean too much upon any desire which 
you have formed without asking my 
counsel, lest you afterward repent it, or 
are displeased with that which pleased 
you at first and which you earnestly de- 
sired, thinking it the best. For you are 
not to follow immediately every affection 
which seems good ; nor on the other hand 
are you to avoid at the beginning every 
contrary affection. 

It is sometimes best to restrain even 
good desires and endeavors, lest your 
mind be distracted by unseasonable ef- 
fort ; lest you offend others by your want 
of self-government ; or again, through 
being thwarted and resisted you are sud- 
denly confounded, and thereby fall. 

3. It is sometimes necessary, however, 
that you use violence 1 and manfully re- 
sist your appetite, paying no regard to 
what the flesh would or would not, 2 but 
rather taking pains to compel it to be 

1 Phil. 2 : 11. 2 Rom. 8:1-13; 1 Cor. 4 : 10 ; 10 : 3. 



160 The Growth of Patience 

made subject to the Spirit. 1 The flesh 
ought to be chastened and to be forced to 
remain under obedience long enough to 
be prepared for everything, and to learn 
to be content with a iittle and to be 
pleased with plain and simple things, and 
not to complain of any inconvenience. 

CHAPTER XII 

Of the Growth of Patience in the 

Soul and of Striving Against 

Concupiscence 






LORD, my God, patience is very 
necessary for me, 2 for I see that 

■<Ssr# many things in this life turn out 

different from what I wish. 

For no matter what plans I shall form 

for my own peace my life cannot be 

without war and affliction. 3 

It is so, my son, but it is my will that 
you seek not that peace which is free 
from temptations, or which suffers noth- 

1 i Cor. 9 : 27. 2 Heb. 10 ; 36. 3 Job 7 : 1. 



The Growth of Patience 161 

ing contrary ; but rather think that you 
have found peace when you are exer- 
cised with many tribulations 1 and tried 
in many adversities. 

2. If you say you are not able to suffer 
much, how will you be able to endure 
hereafter ? Of two evils always choose 
the less. Try to endure present evils 
patiently for God's sake, that you may 
avoid the everlasting punishment that is 
to come. Do you think that the men of 
this world suffer nothing, or only as little ? 
Ask even of those who live most at ease 
and you will find it otherwise. 

But you will say they have many de- 
lights and follow their own will, and 
therefore they do not much feel their 
own afflictions. Be it so, that they have 
whatever they wish ; but how long do 
you think it will last ? 

3. Behold, the wealthy of this world 
shall consume away like smoke, 2 and 
there shall be no memory of their past 
joys ! Yea, even while they are living 
they are not free from bitterness and 

1 James 1:2. 2 Ps. 68 : 2. 

L 



1 62 The Growth of Patience 

weariness and fear. For the very things 
that delight them often bring the penalty 
of sorrow. And it is only just that, hav- 
ing eagerly sought and followed after 
pleasures, they should not enjoy them 
without shame and bitterness. 

4. Oh, how short, how false, how un- 
reasonable and base are all those pleas- 
ures ! Yet men are so drunken and blind 
that they do not understand it, but like 
dumb beasts they risk the death of the 
soul for the poor enjoyment of this 
wicked life. 

Therefore, my son, "go not after thy 
lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appe- 
tites. " ' " Delight thyself in the Lord, 
and he shall give thee the desires of 
thine heart. " 2 

5. For if you desire true delight, and 
long to be more plentifully comforted by 
me, behold, thy blessing shall be in the 
contempt of all worldly things and in the 
cutting off of all base delights and abun- 
dant comfort shall be given you. 

And the more you withdraw yourself 

1 Ecclus. 18 : 30. 2 Ps. 37 : 4. 



The Example of Christ 163 

from all worldly comforts the sweeter 
and more powerful shall be the consola- 
tions you find in me. But at the be- 
ginning you shall not attain unto them 
without some sadness, nor without a la- 
borious conflict. Old inbred habits will 
resist for a time, but they shall be en- 
tirely overcome by following a better 
way. The flesh will rebel against you, 
but you shall bridle it by fervency of 
spirit. The enemy of your soul will 
tempt and trouble you, but prayer will 
put him to flight. And by useful work 
you shall also greatly hinder him. 

CHAPTER XIII 

Of Humble Obedience After tlie 
Example of Jesus Christ 

iM^fI|Y son ' ' ie ^ a * * r * es *° w fthdraw 
/Will himself from obedience with- 
^p^* draws himself from grace, and 
he who seeks private benefit 1 for himself 
loses those benefits that are common. 

1 Matt. 16 : 24. 



164 The Example of Christ 

He who does not cheerfully and freely 
submit himself to his superior shows that 
his flesh has not yet been perfectly 
brought under subjection, but it often 
struggles anc j murmurs against him. Be 
quick, therefore, to learn to submit your- 
self to your superior if you desire to 
keep your own flesh under the yoke. 
For the outward enemy is more speedily 
overcome if the inward man is not in 
disorder. There is no worse enemy to 
the soul than you are unto yourself, if 
you are not in harmony with the Spirit. 
It is indispensable that you form a true 
contempt for yourself if you desire to 
overcome flesh and blood. 

2. Because you still love yourself un- 
reasonably you are afraid to resign your- 
self wholly to the will of others. And 
yet, what great matter is it 1 if you, who 
are only dust and nothing, subject your- 
self to man for God's sake, when I, the 
Almighty and the Most High, who created 
all things from nothing, humbly sub- 
jected myself to man for your sake ? I 

1 Luke 2:7; John 13 : 14. 



The Judgments of God 165 

became the most humble and abject of 
all men that you might overcome your 
pride with my humility. 

O dust, learn to be obedient. Learn, 

earth and clay, to humble yourself 
and to bow yourself down under the feet 
of all men. Learn to break your own will 
and to yield yourself to all subjection. 

3. Be zealous against yourself and 
suffer no pride to dwell in you ; but show 
yourself so humble and so lowly that all 
may be able to walk over you and to tread 
you down like the mire in the streets. 
Vain man, what have you to complain of ? 

CHAPTER XIV 

Of Considering the Sacred Judgments of 

God that so We be not Lifted Up 

for Anything Good in Us 

fHOU, O Lord, thunderest forth thy 
judgments over me, thou shakest 
all my bones with fear and trem- 
bling, and my soul is very sore afraid. 

1 stand astonished, and I reflect "That 



1 66 The Judgments of Go J 

the heavens are not pure in thy sight." l 
If thou didst find wickedness in angels, 2 
and didst not spare even them, what 
shall become of me ? What can I pre- 
sume who am but dust, when even stars 
fell from heaven ? 3 

They whose works seem commenda- 
ble have fallen into the lowest misery, 
and 1 have seen those who ate the bread 
of angels 1 dejighting themselves with 
the husks of wine. 

2. There is, therefore, no holiness if 
thou, O Lord, withdraw thine hand. 

No wisdom can help me if thou cease 
to guide. 

No courage can aid me if thou cease to 
defend. 

No chastity is safe if thou dost not pro- 
tect it. 

No vigilance of our own can avail if 
thy sacred watchfulness is not present 
with us. 

For we sink and perish if thou leavest 
us, but when visited by thee we are 
raised up and live. Truly we are in- 

» Job 15: 15. 2 Job 4: 18. 3 Rev. 8:10. *Ps. 78:25. 



The Judgments of God 167 

constant, but we are established by 
thee ; we grow lukewarm, but we are 
inflamed by thee. 

3. Oh, how humbly and meanly I ought 
to think of myself ! how I ought to think 
of myself as nothing if I seem to have 
any good in me ! With what profound 
humility ought I to submit myself, O 
Lord, to thine unfathomable judgments, 
where I find myself to be nothing else 
than nothing, and very nothing ! 

Oh, weight that cannot be measured, 
oh, sea that cannot be passed over, where 
I discover nothing of myself, except only 
and wholly nothing ! 

Where then can glorying hide it- 
self ? Where can there be trust in 
mine own virtue? All vain-glorying is 
swallowed up in the deep of thy judg- 
ments over me. 

4. What is all flesh in thy sight ? 
Shall the clay boast against him that 

formed it ? 

How can he whose heart is truly sub- 
ject to God be lifted up with vain words ? * 

1 Isa. 29 : 16 : Ecclus. 23 : 4. 5. 



1 68 //* Everything We Desire 

Not all the world can make him proud 
whom the truth has subjected unto itself, 
neither can he who has firmly settled 
his whole hope in God be moved by the 
tongUes of all his flatterers. 

For behold, even all they themselves 
who speak are nothing, for they will p 
away with the sound of their words, but 
the truth of the Lord remains forever. 1 



CHAPTER XV 

/;/ Everything Which We Desire, How 

We Ought to Feel, and What 

We Ought to Say 






^Y son, say thus in everything: 
Lord, if this be pleasing unto 
i~-^ thee, so let it be. 1 " Lord, if it 
be to thy honor, in thy name let this be 
done. Lord, if thou see it to be expe- 
dient and know it to be profitable for 
me, then grant unto me that I may use 
this to thine honor. But if thou knowest 
it will be hurtful unto me, and no profit 

1 Ps. 117 : 2. 2 James 3. 



In Everything We Desire 169 

to the health of my soul, take away the 
desire from me." 

For not every desire proceeds from the 
Holy Spirit, even though it may seem 
right and good unto us. It is difficult for 
you to judge truly whether a good or a 
bad spirit is urging you to desire this or 
that, or whether you are moved by your 
own spirit thereto. Many who seemed 
at first to be led by a good spirit have 
been deceived in the end. 

2. Therefore, whatever seems to be 
desirable must always be desired and 
prayed for in the fear of God and with 
humility of heart ; and above all, you 
must commit the whole matter to me 
with special resignation of yourself, and 
you must say : 

" O Lord, thou knowest what is best 
for us, let this or that be done, as thou 
pleasest. Give what thou wilt and how 
much thou wilt and when thou wilt. 
Deal with me as thou thinkest good and 
as best pleaseth thee and is most for thy 
honor. Set me where thou wilt and deal 
with me in all things just as thou wilt. I 



170 /;/ Everything We Desire 

am in thy hand ; turn me around and turn 
me back again, as thou Shalt please. 

" Behold, I am thy servant prepared 
for all things, for I desire not to live unto 
myself but unto thee, and oh, that I 
could do it worthily and perfectly ! " 

A Prayer that the Will of God may 
be Fulfilled. 

3. O most merciful Jesus, grant thy 
grace to me, that it may remain with me 
and work with me, 1 and continue with 
me even to the end. 

Grant that I may always desire and 
will that which is most acceptable and 
most dear to thee. Let thy will be 
mine, and let my will ever follow thine 
and agree perfectly with it. Let my will 
be all one with thine, and let me not be 
able to will or to forego anything, except 
what thou wiliest or dost not will. 

4. Grant that I may die to all things 
that are in the world, and may love for 
thy sake to be contemned and not to be 
known in this generation. Grant to me 

1 Wisd. 9 : 10. 



True Comfort in God 171 

above all things that I can desire, to de- 
sire to rest in thee and to have my heart 
at peace in thee. 

Thou art the true peace of the heart ; 
thou art its only rest ; outside of thee all 
things are full of trouble and unrest. In 
this peace that is in thee, the one chief- 
est eternal Good, I will lay me down and 
sleep. 1 Amen 



CHAPTER XVI 

That True Comfort is to be Sought 
in God Alone 

5f*ilHATEVER I can desire or think 
%]]^\lk of for my comfort I do not look 
[fUrj for here, but hereafter. For if I 
alone should possess all the comforts of 
the world and were able to enjoy all of 
its delights, 2 it is certain that they could 
not long endure. 

Wherefore, O my soul, thou canst 
not be fully comforted 8 nor have perfect 
rest except in God, who is a comforter 

1 Ps. 4:8. 2 Matt. 16 : 26. 3 Ps. 77 : i. 2. 



172 True Comfort in God 

of the poor and the helper of the humble. 
Wait yet a little while, O my soul ; 
wait for the divine promise and thou shalt 
have an abundance of all the good things 
in heaven. 

If you desire beyond measure the 
things which are present you shall lose 
those that are heavenly and eternal. 
Use temporal things and desire eternal 
things. You cannot be satisfied by any 
temporal goods, because you are not 
created to enjoy them. 

2. If you possessed all created goods 
you could not be happy nor blessed 
thereby, but your whole blessedness and 
felicity consists in God, who created 
all things. 1 

And this is not such happiness as is 
seen and commended by the foolish lov- 
ers of the world, but it is such as the 
good and faithful servants of Christ wait 
for, and of which the spiritual and pure in 
heart, whose conversation is in heaven, 2 
sometimes have a foretaste. 

Vain and brief is all human consolation. 

1 Wisd. 2 : 23. 2 Phil. 3 : 20. 



Our Anxieties Rested on God 173 

Blessed and true is the consolation which 
is received inwardly from the truth. 

A devout man bears everywhere with 
him his own comforter, Jesus, and says 
unto him, " Be thou present with me, O 
Lord Jesus, in every time and place. Let 
this be my comfort, to be willing to lack 
all human comfort. And if thy comfort 
be wanting let thy will and just proving 
of me be unto me as the greatest comfort, 
for thou wilt not always be angry, neither 
wilt thou chide forever. " l 



CHAPTER XVII 

That all of Our Anxieties are to 
be Rested on God 

ijltfJpjY son, suffer me to do what I 

*-7 / t P' ease w ^h y° u - ' know what 
<%i0f^ is expedient for you. You think 
as man ; you judge in many things as 
human affection persuades you. 

O Lord, what thou sayest is true. 

1 Ps. 103 : 9. 



174 Our Anxieties Rested on God 

Thy care for me is greater 1 than all the 
care that 1 can take for myself. For he 
stands very unsafely who does not cast 
all his care upon thee. O Lord, if only 
my will may remain right and firm to- 
ward thee, do with me whatever it shall 
please thee. For whatever thou shalt do 
with me cannot be anything but good. 

2. If it be thy will that I should be in 
darkness, be thou blessed ; if it be thy 
will that I should be in light, be thou 
again blessed ; if thou vouchsafe to com- 
fort me, be thou blessed, and if thou wilt 
have me afflicted, be thou blessed also. 

My son, such as this ought to be your 
state if you desire to walk with me. You 
ought to be as ready to suffer as to re- 
joice. You ought to be destitute and poor 
as cheerfully as you may be full and rich. 

3. O Lord, for thy sake I will cheer- 
fully suffer 2 whatever comes upon me 
with thy permission. 

I am willing to receive indifferently 

1 Matt. 6 : 30 ; John 6. 2 Job 2 : 10 






Sufferings Must be Borne Patiently 175 

from thy hand good and evil, sweet and 
bitter, joy and sorrow, and for all that 
befalls me I will be thankful. 

Keep me safe from all sin and I shall 
fear neither death 1 nor hell. Whatever 
tribulation befalls me shall not hurt me 
if thou dost not cast me from thee forever 
nor blot me out of the book of life. 



CHAPTER XVIII 

That Temporal Sufferings Must be Borne 

Patiently after the Example 

of Christ 

WkWtft son » ' descended from heaven 2 
~V for your salvation ; I took your 
^Ip^ sorrows upon me, 3 not through 
necessity, but drawn to do so through 
love, that you yourself might learn pa- 
tience and bear temporal sufferings with- 
out repining. For I was not without 
suffering of grief from the hour of my 
birth 4 even till my death on the cross. 

1 Ps. 23 : 4. 2 John 3 : 13. 

3 Isa. 53:4. 4 Luke 2 : 7. 



^ 



176 Sufferings Must be Borne Patient ly 

I suffered great want for temporal 
things ; I often heard many murmurings 
against me ; I patiently endured disgraces 
and revilings ; I received ingratitude in 
return for benefits ; blasphemies for mira- 
cles ; reproofs for heavenly doctrine. 

2. O Lord, because thou wert patient 
in thy lifetime, therein especially fulfill- 
ing the commandment of thy Father, 1 it 
is reasonable that I, a most miserable 
sinner, should patiently suffer thy will, 
and for my soul's welfare endure the 
burden of this corruptible life as long as 
thou thyself shalt choose. 

For although this present life is bur- 
densome yet it is made very gainful by 
thy grace, and it is made more bright 
and clear and endurable to the weak- 
through thine example and the footsteps 
of thy saints. 

It is also made much more full of con- 
solation than it was formerly under the 
old law, when the gate of heaven re- 
mained shut, and when the way also to 

1 John 5 : 30. 



Sufferings Must be Borne Patiently 177 

heaven seemed more dark and few cared 
to seek after the kingdom of heaven. 1 

Moreover, they who at that time were 
just and such as should be saved, could 
not enter into the heavenly kingdom 
before the accomplishment of thy pas- 
sion and the payment of the debt by 
thy holy death. 

3. Oh, how great thanks am I bound 
to render unto thee, because thou hast 
vouchsafed to show unto me and to all 
faithful people the good and the right 
way to thine eternal kingdom. 

For thy life is our way, and by the 
path of holy patience we walk toward 
thee, who art our Crown. 

Who would have cared to follow thee 
if thou hadst not gone before us and 
taught us ? 

Alas, how many would remain behind 
and afar off if they did not consider thy 
glorious example ! 

Behold, although we have heard of so 
many of thy miracles and doctrines we 
are even yet lukewarm. What would 

1 Matt. 7 : 14. 

M 




v k4 



1 78 Endurance of Injuries and Patience 

become of us if we had not such a great 
light 1 by which to follow thee ! 



CHAPTER XIX 

Of the Endurance of Injuries and of 
the Proof of True Patience 

HAT is it, my son, that you say ? 
jj Cease to complain when you 
consider my Passion and the 
sufferings of my other saints. 

You have not yet resisted unto blood. 2 

It is only little that you suffer when 
compared with those who suffered so 
much, who were so strongly tempted, so 
grievously afflicted, so tried and exer- 
cised 3 in many ways. 

You ought, therefore, to call to mind 
the more heavy sufferings of others in 
order that you may bear more easily 
your own very small troubles. 

And if these troubles do not seem very 
small to you, then beware lest they are 
caused by your impatience. 

1 John n : 46. 2 Heb. 12 : 4. 3 Heb. 11 : 37 



Endurance of Injuries and Patience 179 

Whether they be small or whether 
they be great, however, try to endure 
them all patiently. 

2. The more willingly you resign 
yourself to suffering the more wisely do 
you act and the greater is the reward 
that you shall receive. And if you are 
diligently prepared, both in mind and by 
habit> you shall bear it more easily. 

Do not say, " I cannot endure to suf- 
fer these things, nor ought I to endure 
things of this sort, for he has done me 
great wrong, and reproaches me with 
things which I never thought of ; but 
from another I will willingly suffer, that 
is, if they are things which I see I 
ought to suffer. " 

Such a thought is foolish ; it forgets the 
virtue of patience and by whom it will be 
crowned, and weighs too exactly the per- 
sons and the injuries offered to itself. 

3. That one is not truly patient who 
is willing to suffer only so much as he 
thinks good and from whom he pleases. 

The truly patient man does not mind 
by whom he is exercised, whether it be 



180 Endurance of Injuries and Patience 

by his superiors, by one of his equals, or 
by an inferior ; whether by a good and 
holy man, or by one who is perverse 
and unworthy. 

But no matter whom it comes from, 
nor how much nor how often anything 
adverse may befall him, he takes it all 
thankfully as coming from the hands of 
God and esteems it great gain to him. 

For it is impossible with God thai 
anything, no matter how small, should 
pass without its reward if only it is suf- 
fered for God's sake. 

4. Be you prepared, therefore, if you 
would win the victory. 

You cannot attain the crown of pa- 
tience without a combat. 1 

If you are unwilling to suffer you 
thereby refuse to be crowned. But if 
you desire to be crowned, fight manfully 
and endure patiently. There can be no 
rest without labor nor can the victory be 
won without fighting. 

O Lord, let that which by nature 

1 2 Tim. 2 : 3-5. 



Acknowledging Our Infirmities and Sufferings 181 

seems impossible to me become possi- 
ble to me through thy grace. 

Thou knowest that I am able to suffer 
only little, and when a slight adversity 
arises I am quickly cast down. 

For thy name's sake let every trial or 
tribulation be made pleasant unto me, 
for it is very good for my soul to suffer 
and to be troubled for thy sake. 



CHAPTER XX 

Of the Acknowledging of Our Own 
Infirmities and of the Suffer- 
ings of This Life 



|| WILL acknowledge my sin unto 
|l thee; 1 I will confess mine infirmity 
^ unto thee, O Lord. 

It is often a small matter that makes 
me sad and dejected. 

I resolve to act with courage, but even 
when a small temptation comes I am at 
once in great trouble. Sometimes a great 
temptation arises from only a trifle. 

1 Ps. 32 : 5. 



f 82 Acknowledging Our Infirmities and Sufferings 

And when I think myself safe and 
least expect it I sometimes find myself 
overcome by only a slight tempation. 

2. Behold, therefore, O Lord, my 
weakness 1 which is known every way 
unto thee. 

Have mercy on me, and deliver me 
out of the mire that I may not stick 
fast in it 2 and may not remain always 
cast down. 

It is this which often strikes me down 
and confounds me in thy sight, because 
I am so likely to fall and so weak in 
resisting my passions. 

And although I do not wholly consent, 
yet their continued assaults are trouble- 
some and grievous unto me, and it is very 
trying to live thus daily in conflict. 

Because hateful fancies always invade 
my mind more easily than they for- 
sake me, my weakness becomes known 
unto me. 

3. Most mighty God of Israel, thou 
zealous lover of faithful souls ! Oh, 
that thou wouldst consider the labor and 

1 Ps. 25 : 18. 2 Ps. 69 : 14. 



Acknowledging Our Infirmities and Sufferings 183 

sorrow of thy servant and stand by 
him and assist him in all things that 
he undertakes. 

Strengthen me with heavenly courage, 
lest the old man, the miserable flesh, not 
as yet fully subject to the Spirit, shall 
prevail and get the upper hand. Against 
this it is needful for me to fight so long 
as I breathe in this miserable life. 

Alas, what a life this is, where tribu- 
lation and miseries are never wanting, 
where all is full of snares and enemies I 

For when one tribulation or tempta- 
tion goes another comes, and even 
while the first conflict is unfinished 
many other unexpected ones come one 
after another. 

4. And how can we love a life which 
has so many embitterments and is sub- 
ject to so many calamities and miseries ? 
And how can we call it a life, which 
begets so many deaths and plagues ? 
And yet many men love it and seek its 
delights. 

The world is often blamed for being 
deceitful and vain, and yet it is not 



1 84 Acknowledging Our Infirmities and Sufferings 

easily abandoned and men cling to it, 
because they are so much swayed by 
the desires of the flesh. Some things, 
however, draw us to love the world 
while others lead us to contemn it. 

The lust of the flesh, the lust of the 
eyes, and the pride of life 1 draw us to 
the love of the world, but the pains and 
miseries that justly follow these lusts 
cause us to hate and loathe the world 
and to feel the weariness of it. 

5. But alas, the fondness for vicious 
pleasures overcomes the mind of him 
who loves the world, and he esteems it 
a delight to be always under thorns, 2 
because he has neither seen nor tasted 
the sweetness of God and the inward 
pleasantness of virtue. 

But they who perfectly contemn the 
world and study to live to God under 
holy discipline, know the divine sweet- 
ness promised to those who truly for- 
sake the world. They also see very 
clearly how the world errs and how it 
is deceived in many ways. 

1 1 John 2 : 16. 2 Job 30 : 7. 



Resting in God 



CHAPTER XXI 

That We are to Rest in God Abcrot All 

His Gifts and Benefits 

£||i ; BOYE all things and in all thi: 
tij% O my soul, thou shalt rest 
fe— in the Lord, for he himself is the 
everlasting rest of the 

Grant me, O most sweet and loving 
Jesus, to rest in thee, above all crea- 
tures, 1 above all health and beauty, 
above all glory and honor, above all 
power and dignity, above all knowl- 
edge and subtilty, above all riches and 
arts, above . gladness, above 

all fame and praise, above all sweet- 
ness and comfort, above all hope and 
promise, above all desert and desire — 
above all gifts and benefits that v: 
canst give and impart unto . ;;;ve 
all mirth and joy that the mind of man 
can receive and feel ; finally, above an- 
gels and archangels, and above all the 
heavenly hosi. v - :di things visible 

1 Rom. S : 15-22. 



1 86 Resting in God 



and invisible, and above all that thou 
art not, O my God. 

2. Because thou, O Lord my God, art 
supremely good above all ; thou alone 
art most high, thou alone most power- 
ful, thou alone most full and sufficient, 
thou alone most sweet and most full of 
consolation. 

Thou alone art most lovely and lov- 
ing, thou alone most noble and glorious 
above all things, in whom all good things 
together both perfectly are, and ever 
have been, and ever shall be. 

And therefore whatever thou bestow- 
est on me besides thyself, or revealest 
unto me of thyself, or promisest unto 
me, is only mean and unsatisfying, so 
long as thou art not seen and not fully 
obtained. For surely my heart cannot 
truly rest, nor be entirely contented, 
unless it rest in thee, and rise above all 
gifts and all creatures whatsoever. 

3. O thou most beloved spouse of my 
soul, Jesus Christ, thou most pure Lover, 
thou Lord of all creation, oh, that I had 
the wings of true liberty, that I might 



Resting in God 187 



fly away and rest in thee ! l Oh, when 
shall it be fully granted to me, to ponder 
in quietness of mind and to see how 
sweet thou art, my Lord God ? 

When shall I fully gather up myself 
into thee, that because of reason of my 
love to thee I may not feel myself, but 
feel thee alone, above all sense and 
measure, in a manner not known unto 
every one ? 2 

But now I often sigh and bear my un- 
happiness with grief. This is because 
many evils afflict me in this vale of 
miseries, and they often trouble, grieve, 
and overcloud me ; they often hinder and 
distract me, they allure and entangle me, 
so that I do not have free access unto thee 
nor enjoy the sweet welcomings which 
are always ready for the blessed spirits. 
O let my sighs and my many troubles 
here on earth move thee. 

4. O Jesus, thou brightness of eternal 
glory, thou comfort of the pilgrim soul, 
with thee my tongue has no voice, and 
my very silence speaketh unto thee. 

1 Ps. 55 : 6. 2 Dan. 10. 



Resting in God 



How long doth my Lord delay to come ? 
Let him come unto me and let him make 
glad his poor despised servant. Let him 
put forth his hand and deliver his poor 
servant from all anguish. Come, O 
come ; for without thee I shall have no 
joyful day nor even an hour ; for thou 
art my joy, and without thee my table 
is empty. I am a wretched creature, and 
<\m as if I were imprisoned and loaded 
with fetters, until thou refreshest me 
with the light of-thy presence, and grant- 
est me liberty, and showest a friendly 
countenance toward me. 

5. Let others seek what they please 
instead of thee ; but for me, nothing 
else does or shall delight me, except 
thee only, my God, my hope, my ever- 
lasting salvation. 

I will not hold my peace, nor cease to 
pray, until thy grace return again and 
thou speakest inwardly unto me. 

Behold, here I am. Behold, I come 
unto you because you have called me. 
Your tears and the desire of your soul, 



Resting in God 189 



your humiliation and your contrition 
of heart have inclined and brought me 
unto you. 

And I said, Lord, I have called thee, 
and have desired to enjoy thee, for I am 
ready to refuse all things for thy sake. 
For thou hast stirred me up that I might 
seek thee. Blessed be thou therefore, 
O Lord, that hast showed this goodness 
to thy servant, according to the multi- 
tude of thy mercies. 

6. What has thy servant more to say 
before thee ? he can only humble him- 
self greatly in thy sight, always mindfuL 
of his own iniquity and vileness. 

For in all that is wonderful in heaven 
and earth, there is none like unto thee. 1 

Thy works are very good, thy judg- 
ments are true, and by thy wisdom the 
universe is governed. 

Praise, therefore, and glory be unto 
thee, O Wisdom of the Father ; let my 
mouth, my soul, and all creatures to- 
gether, praise and bless thee. 

1 Ps. 86 : 8. 



190 Remembrance of God r s Benefits 

CHAPTER XXII 

Of the Remembrance of God's Manifold 
Benefits 

(PEN, O Lord, my heart that it may 
understand thy law, and teach me 
- to walk in thy commandments. 1 
Grant that I may understand thy will, 
and with great reverence and diligent 
consideration remember thy benefits, 
not only in general, but in particular, 
that from this time forward I may be 
able worthily to give thee thanks. And 
yet I know and confess that I am not 
able, even in the least degree, to give 
thee proper thanks for the favors which 
thou bestowest upon me. I am less than 
the least of all thy benefits ; and when 
J think of thy noble bounty its greatness 
makes my spirit faint. 

2. All that we have in our soul and 
body, and whatever we possess out- 
wardly or inwardly, naturally or super- 
naturally, are thy benefits, and they 

1 Ps. 119. 



Remembrance of Gocfs Benefits IQI 

show thee bountiful, merciful, and good, 
from whom we have received all good 
things. Although one may have received 
more and another less, yet all are thine, 
and the least blessing cannot be had 
without thee. 

He that has received the greatest can- 
not glory on account of his own worthi- 
ness, nor praise himself above others, 
nor boast over those who have received 
less. For he is the greatest and the best 
who gives the least credit unto himself, 
and who is the most humble and the 
most devout in rendering thanks. And 
he who esteems himself viler than all 
men and considers himself most un- 
worthy, is best fitted to receive greater 
blessings. 

3. But he who receives fewer blessings 
ought not to lose heart, nor to grieve, 
nor to envy those that are enriched with 
greater store ; but rather let him turn his 
mind to thee and highly praise thy good- 
ness, because thou bestowest thy gifts 
so bountifully, so freely, and so willingly 
without respect of persons. 



1 92 Remembrance of God's Benefits 

Since all things proceed from thee, 
thou art to be praised in all things. 
Thou knowest what is fit to be given 
to every one. And why this one has 
less and that one more is not for us to 
judge, but for thee, who doest exactly 
what is right for every one. 

4. Wherefore, O Lord God, I even es- 
teem it a great mercy not to have much 
of that which outwardly and in the opin- 
ion of men seems to be worthy of glory 
and applause. 

He who looks upon the poverty and 
unworthiness of himself should, so far 
from being grieved or saddened, or from 
being cast down thereby, take great com- 
fort and be glad. For thou, O God, hast 
chosen the poor and humble and the de- 
spised in this world for thyself, 1 to be thy 
familiar friends and servants. 

The apostles themselves are thy wit- 
nesses, for thou hast made them princes 
over all the earth. 2 

And yet they lived without complaint 3 
in the world, so humble and simple, so 

1 1 Cor. 1 : 27, 28. 2 Ps. 14 : 16. 3 1 Thess. 2 : 10. 



Remembrance of God's Benefits 193 

free from all malice and deceit, that they 
rejoiced to suffer reproach for thy name ; l 
and they embraced with great affection 
what the world abhorred. 

5. When, therefore, a man loves thee 
and acknowledges thy benefits, noth- 
ing ought so to rejoice him as thy will 
toward him and the good pleasure of 
thine eternal appointment. And be- 
because of this he ought to be so con- 
tented and comforted, that he will be as 
willing to be the least as another desires 
to be the greatest. 

He too would be as peaceable and con- 
tented in the last place as in the first ; 
as willing to be a despised castaway, 
with no name or character, as to be pre- 
ferred in honor before others, and to be 
greater in the world than they. 

For we ought to prefer thy will and 
the love of thy glory before all things, 
and to be more comforted and better 
pleased with them than with all the 
benefits which either we have received 
or may receive. 

1 Acts 5 : 41. 

N 



ig4 Things that Bring Peace 



CHAPTER XXIII 

Of Four Things that Bring Great. 
Inward Peace 

juY son, I will now teach you the 
Hi way of peace and of true titan 




« 



^€p£* erty. 



Lord, I beseech thee, do as thou say- 
est, for this is delightful to me to hear. 

Be anxious, my son, to do the will of 
another rather than your own. 1 Always 
choose to have less rather than more. 2 

Always seek the lowest place, that 
you may be beneath every one. 3 

Always wish and pray, that the will of 
God may be wholly fulfilled in you. 4 

Behold, such a one enters within the 
borders of peace and rest. 

2. O Lord, this short discourse of 
thine contains much perfection within 

1 Matt. 26 : 39 ; John 5 : 30 ; 6 : 38. 2 1 Cor. 10 : 24. 

3 Luke 14 : 10. 4 Matt. 6 : 10. 



Things that Bring Peace 195 

itself. 1 Though it is few in words, 
they are full of meaning, and are abun- 
dant in fruit. If thy discourse could be 
faithfully kept, I should not be so easily 
disturbed. 

For as often as I feel myself unquiet 
and weighed down, I find it is because 1 
have strayed from this doctrine. 

But thou who canst do all things, and 
always lovest the profiting of my soul, 
increase thy grace in me, that I may be 
able to fulfill thy words and to work out 
my own salvation. 

4 Prayer Against Evil Thoughts 

3. O Lord, my God, be thou not far 
from me ; my God, haste thee to help 
me ; 2 for there have risen up against me 
many thoughts and great fears which 
afflict my soul. 

How shall I pass through them unhurt? 
How shall I break them to pieces ? 

"I," saith he, "will go before you 
and will humble for you the great ones 
of the earth ; I will open the doors of 

1 Matt. 5:48. 2 Ps. 71 : 12. 



196 Things that Bring Peace 

the prison, and will reveal hidden secrets 
unto you.'' l 

Do, O Lord, as thou sayest, let all evil 
thoughts fly from before thy face. 

It is my hope and my one only conso- 
lation, that I may flee unto thee in every 
tribulation, trust in thee, call upon thee 
from my inmost heart, and wait patiently 
for thy consolation. 

A Ptayer for Mental Illumination 

4. O merciful Jesus, enlighten thou 
me with the brightness of thine inward 
light, and take away all darkness from 
dwelling in my heart. 

Repress thou my many wandering 
thoughts, and break in pieces those temp- 
tations which so violently assail me. 

Fight thou strongly for me, and van- 
quish these evil beasts, these alluring 
desires of the flesh ; that thus peace may 
be obtained through thy power, and that 
thy praise may resound in the holy tem- 
ple of a pure conscience. Command the 
winds and tempests ; say to the north 

1 Isa. 14 : 2, 3. 



Things that Bring Peace 197 

wind, Blow not ; say unto the sea, Be 
still ; * and there shall be a great calm. 

5. Send out thy light and thy truth, 2 
that they may shine upon the earth ; for 
until thou enlightenest me, I am only as 
the earth, without form and void. 

Pour forth thy grace from above, steep 
my heart in thy heavenly dew, supply 
fresh streams of devotion to water the 
face of the earth, that it may bring forth 
good and excellent fruit. 

Lift up my mind, which is weighed 
down by a load of sin, and draw up my 
whole desire to heavenly things ; so that 
having tasted the sweetness of heavenly 
happiness, I shall dislike even to think of 
earthly things. 

6. Do thou pluck me away, and de- 
liver me from the perishing comfort of 
creatures ; for no created thing can fully 
comfort and quiet my desires. 

Join thou me to thyself with a firm 
band of love ; for thou, even thou alone, 
satisfiest him who loveth thee, and all 
things are vain and empty without thee. 

1 Matt. 8 : 26. 2 Ps. 43 : 3. 



iq8 Avoiding Curious Inquiry 



CHAPTER XXIV 

Of Avoiding Curious Inquiry into the 
Lives of Others 



fl 



m 



Y son, be not curious, and do not 

1 trouble yourself with idle cares. 1 
Hp^ What is this or that to thee ? 

follow me. 2 

For what is it to you, whether that 
one be such or such, or whether this one 
speaks this or that ? 

You do not have to answer for others, 
but you must give an account for your- 
self ; 3 why, therefore, entangle yourself ? 

Behold, I know every one, and see all 
things that are done under the sun ; I 
also understand how it is with every one, 
what he thinks, what he wishes, and 
what his intentions are. 

Therefore all things are to be com- 
mitted unto me ; but do you keep your- 
self in peace, and leave the unquiet to be 
as unquiet as they will. 

1 Ecclus. 3 : 23 ; 1 Tim. 5 : 13. 

2 John 21 : 22. 3 Gal. 6 : 4, 5. 



Peace and Progress igg 

Whatever they have done or said, shall 
come upon themselves, for they cannot 
deceive me. 

2. Have no regard for the shadow of a 
great name, or for the familiar friendship 
of many, or for the particular and separate 
affection of any one. For these things 
distract and greatly darken the heart. 

I would willingly speak my word, and 
reveal my secrets unto you, if you would 
diligently watch for my coming, and open 
the door of your heart unto me. 

Be on your guard, and watchful in 
prayer, and humble yourself in all things. 

CHAPTER XXV 

Wherein Firm Peace of Heart and True 
Spiritual Progress Consisteth 

.|^|J|s}Y son > I have said, " Peace I leave 

IIWw w ^ y° u > m y p eace i gi ye un t° 

^Mim^ you ; not as the world giveth, 
give I unto you." x 

Peace is what we all desire, but all do 

1 John 14 : 27. 



200 Peace and Progress 

not care for the things that relate unto 
true peace. My peace is with the humble 
and gentle of heart ; your peace shall be 
in much patience. 

If you will hear and follow my voice, 
you shall be able to enjoy much peace. 

What, then, shall I do, Lord ? 

In every matter look to yourself, as to 
what you do and what you say ; and 
direct your whole attention to pleasing 
me alone, and neither desire nor seek 
anything besides me. 

Concerning the words or deeds of 
others do not judge rashly; neither en- 
tangle yourself with things that are not 
entrusted unto you. Remember this 
and you will be little or seldom disturbed. 

2. It does not belong to this life, how- 
ever, never to feel any disturbance at all, 
nor to suffer any trouble of mind or body; 
for such a state belongs to eternal rest. 

Do not think therefore, that because 
you feel no heaviness you have found 
true peace ; nor that all is well, when 



Peace and Progress 201 

you are not vexed with any adversary ; 
nor that all is perfect, if everything is 
done according to your desire. 

Neither must you think highly of your- 
self, nor believe yourself specially be- 
loved, if you are in a state of great devo- 
tion and sweetness ; for a true lover of 
virtue is not known by these things, nor 
does the spiritual progress and perfection 
of any one consist in them. 

3. Wherein then, O Lord, does it con- 
sist ? 

It consists in giving yourself up with 
all your heart to the divine will, not seek- 
ing your own interest, either in great 
or small matters, either in time or in 
eternity. So should you always feel the 
same, giving thanks in adversity as well 
as in prosperity, and weighing all things 
in an equal balance. 

Be so full of courage, and so patient in 
hope, that when inward comfort is with- 
drawn, you may prepare your heart to 
suffer even greater things ; and do not 
think that you ought not to suffer such 
and so great afflictions, but justify me in 



202 Excellency of a Free Mind 

whatever I order, and cease not to praise 
my holy name. 

Then will you walk in the true and 
right way of peace, and you shall have 
a sure hope of seeing my face again with 
great delight. 

Now if you reach this full content of 
yourself, know that you shall then enjoy 
an abundance of peace, as great as you 
are capable of in this life. 



CHAPTER XXVI 

Of the Excellency of a Free Mind, Which 

is Sooner Gained by Humble Prayer 

Than by Study 

fLORD, it is the business of a per- 
fect person never to withdraw his 
mind from attentive thought of 
heavenly things, that he may thus pass 
amidst many cares without care ; not as 
if he were destitute of all feeling, but, 
because of the privilege of. a free mind, 
which clings to no creature with too great 
affection. 



Excellency of a Free Mind 203 

2. I beseech thee, my most gracious 
God, preserve me from the cares of this 
life, that I may not be too much entangled 
therein ; and preserve me from the many 
needs of the body, lest I should be en- 
snared by pleasure ; and preserve me 
from whatever is an obstacle to the soul, 
lest, when broken with troubles, I should 
be overthrown. 

I do not speak of those things which 
worldly vanity desires so earnestly, but 
of those miseries, which, as punishments 
and as the common curse of mortal- 
ity, 1 weigh down and hinder the soul 
of thy servant, so that it cannot enter 
into the freedom of the Spirit as often as 
it would. 

3. O my God, thou sweetness inef- 
fable, turn into bitterness for me all that 
carnal comfort which draws me away 
from the love of eternal things, and evilly 
allures me to itself by the promise of 
some present good. 

Let me not be overcome, O Lord, let 
me not be overcome by flesh and blood ; 2 

1 Gen. 3 : 17 ; Rom. 7 : 11. 2 Rom. 12 : 21. 



204 Excellency of a Free Mind 

let not the world and its brief glory de- 
ceive me ; let not the devil by his cun- 
ning trip me up. 

Give me strength to resist, patience to 
endure, and the constancy to persevere. 

Give to me, instead of all the comforts 
of the world, thy most sweet Spirit, and, 
in place of worldly love, fill my heart 
with the love of thy name. 

4. Behold ! meat, drink, clothing, and 
all the necessaries for the support of the 
body, are burdens to a fervent spirit. 

Grant me the spirit to use such neces- 
sities in moderation, and to keep from 
being entangled by an undue desire for 
them. 

It is not lawful to throw away all things, 
because our bodies must be sustained ; 
but to crave those things that are not 
necessary and those things intended to 
give only pleasure is forbidden by the 
holy law ; for when we do so, the flesh 
rebels against the spirit. Therefore, I 
beseech thee, let thy hand govern me 
and teach me, that I may not go to the 
extreme in anything. 



Love of Self 20$ 

CHAPTER XXVII 

That it is Love of Self Which Most 

Hindereth from the Chiefest 

Good 



gm 



&j|pY son, you ought to give all for 
all, and do nothing for yourself 
^|P^ alone. 

Remember that the love of yourself 
hurts you more than anything in the 
world. 

Just as you bear love and affection for 
anything, so will it cling unto you more 
or less. 

If your love is pure, 1 simple, and well 
ordered, you will be free from bondage. 

Do not covet that which it is not law- 
ful for you to have. Do not have that 
which may hinder you, and deprive you 
of inward liberty. 

It is strange that you do not commit 
yourself wholly unto me from the bot- 
tom of your heart and with all things 
that you can have or desire. 

1 Matt. 6 : 22. 



2o6 Love of Self 

2. Why do you fret yourself with vain 
grief ? Why do you weary yourself 
with needless cares ? If you will submit 
to my good will you shall suffer no hurt. 

If you seek this or that and wish to be 
here or there in order to enjoy your own 
profit and pleasure, you shall never be 
at peace nor free from trouble of mind. 
For there will be something wanting in 
every case and there will be some one 
to cross you in every place. 

It is therefore of no profit to you to 
obtain and increase any outward things, 
but it will profit you if you despise them 
and utterly root them out of your heart. 

3. And you must remember that this 
applies not only to revenues and wealth, 
but to the seeking after honor and the 
desire of vain praise, all of which must 
pass away with this world. 

No place can be of help to you if the 
fervent spirit is lacking, neither will that 
peace which is sought from without last 
long. 1 If your heart lacks a sure foun- 
dation, that is, if you do not stand stead- 

1 Isa. 41 : 13- 



Love of Self 207 

fast in me, you may change but you shall 
not better yourself. 

For when the occasion comes to you 
and you use it, you shall find that which 
you fled from, and even more. 

A Prayer for a Clean Heart and 
Heavenly Wisdom 

4. Strengthen me, O God, by the 
grace of thy Holy Spirit. 1 

Grant to strengthen me in the inner 
man 2 and to free my heart of all useless 
care and anguish, 3 so that I shall not be 
drawn away by different desires for any- 
thing whatever, whether it is mean or 
precious, but that I may look on all 
things as passing away, and on myself 
as soon also to pass away with them. 

For nothing under the sun shall last, 
and all things are vanity and vexation of 
spirit. 4 Oh, how wise is he who so con- 
siders them \ 

5. O Lord, grant me heavenly wis- 
dom 5 that I may learn above all things 

1 Ps. ji : 12. 2 Eph. 3 : 16. 3 Matt. 6 : 34. 

4 Eccl. 1 : 14 ; 2 : 1. 5 Wisd. 9. 



2o8 The Tongues of Slanderers 

to seek and to find thee, above all things 
to enjoy thee, and to think of all other 
things as they really are according as 
they have been ordered in thy wisdom. 

Grant me prudence to avoid the one 
who flatters me and to have patience 
with him who contradicts me. 

Because it is wise not to be moved 
with every kind of words 1 nor to listen 
to an evil flatterer ; and if I remember 
this 1 shall walk safely in the way in 
which I have begun. 



CHAPTER XXVIII 

Against the Tongues of Slanderers 

iHPy W)Y son, care not if some think ill 
\ IX °^ y° u " anc * sa >' things which 
^^^ you do not like to hear. 

You ought to be the severest judge of 
yourself and to look upon no one as 
weaker than you. 

If you walk spiritually you will care 

very little for fleeting words. 

1 Eph. 4 : 14. 2 1 Cor. 4 • 13. 



When Tribulation is Upon Us 209 

It is no small wisdom to keep silent 
amid scandals, and in your heart to turn 
yourself to me, and not to be troubled 
by what others say. 

2. Let not your peace of mind depend 
on the tongues of others, for whether 
they speak well or ill of you, you are 
yourself just the same. Where are true 
peace and true glory ? Are they not 
in me ? * 

And he who does not care to please 
others, and is not afraid to displease 
them, shall enjoy much peace. 

CHAPTER XXIX 

How That we Ought to Call upon God, 
and to Bless Him, When Tribu- 
lation is Upon Us 

JJIjlLESSED be thy name, O Lord, for- 
\mx\ ever, 2 because it is thy will that 
^?r temptation and tribulation should 
come upon me. 

I cannot escape it, but must fly unto 

1 John 16 : 33. 2 Job 1 : 21 ; Ps. 113 : 2. 

o 



2IO When Tribulation is Upon Us 

thee that thou mayest help me and turn 
it to my good. 

Lord, I am now in affliction and it 
is not well with me, but I am greatly 
troubled with the present suffering. 

And now, O beloved Father, what 
shall I say ? l I am greatly perplexed ; 
save thou me from this hour. 

But I came unto this hour that thou 
mightest be glorified, when I shall have 
been greatly humbled and be delivered 
by thee. 

Let it please thee, Lord, to deliver 
me/ for wretched as I am what can I do 
and where shall I go without thee ? 

Grant me patience, O Lord, even now 
in this my sore perplexity. Help me, 
my God, and then I will not fear, no 
matter how grievously I am afflicted. 

2. And now in these troubles of mine 
what shall I say ? 

Lord, thy will be done ! 8 I have de- 
served to be afflicted and grieved. 

Surely I ought to bear it, and oh, that 

1 Matt. 26 ; John 12 : 27. 2 Ps. 37 : 40. 

3 Matt. 6 : 10. 



Craving Divine Aid 211 

I may bear it with patience until the 
tempest has passed and all is well again 
or even better with me ! 

But thine omnipotent hand is able to 
take even this temptation from me and 
to lessen its violence, so that I shall not 
utterly sink under it, as thou hast often 
done with me, O my God, my Mercy. 

And the more difficult it is to me so 
much the more easy it is to thee thus to 
change the right hand of the most High. 

CHAPTER XXX 

Of Craving the Divine Aid and of Con- 
fidence of Recovering Grace 



^IvJEjY son, I am the Lord that giveth 

Wo^Wv stren gth ' n ^ ie day °f tribula- 
^|p^ tion. 1 

Come unto me when it is not well 
with you. 2 

That which most hinders heavenly 
consolation, is that you are too slow in 
turning yourself unto prayer. 

1 Nahum 1:7. 2 Matt. 11 : 28. 



212 Craving Divine Aid 

For before you turn earnestly to pray 
to me you seek in the meanwhile many 
comforts and look for relief in outward 
things. 

And so it comes to pass that all these 
give you little profit until you remember 
that I am he who rescues them that trust 
in him, and that except from me there 
is neither powerful help nor profitable 
counsel nor lasting remedy. 

But having recovered your breath 
after the tempest do you gather strength 
again in the light of my mercies, for I 
am at hand (saith the Lord) to cure all, 
not only wholly, but also abundantly 
and in most plentiful measure. 

2. Is there anything hard for me to 
do ? Or shall 1 be like one who prom- 
ises and does not perform P 1 

Where is your faith ? stand firmly 
with perseverance ; take courage and be 
patient ; comfort will come to you in 
due time. 

Wait, wait, I say, for me ; I will come 
and heal you. 

1 Matt. 23 : 35. 



Craving Divine Aid 213 

That which vexes you is a temptation, 
and that which affrights you is a vain fear. 

What else does anxiety about the fu- 
ture bring to you, except sorrow upon 
sorrow ? " Sufficient for the day is the 
evil thereof. " l 

It is a vain and unprofitable thing to 
to be disturbed or pleased about future 
things, which perhaps will never come 
to pass. 

3. But it is the nature of all to be de- 
ceived by such fancies ; and it is a sign 
of a mind that is still weak when it is so 
easily drawn away by the suggestions 
of the enemy. 

The enemy cares not whether the 
things be true or false, if he can only 
delude and deceive you ; nor whether 
it be with the love of present things, or 
the fear of future things, by which he 
overthrows you. 

Let not your heart therefore be trou- 
bled, neither let it be afraid. 

Trust in me and put your confidence 
in my mercy. 2 

1 Matt. 6 : 34. 2 Ps. 91 : 1. 



214 Craving Divine Aid 

When you think yourself farthest off 
from me I am often nearest unto you. 

When you judge that almost all is 
lost the greatest gain of reward is often 
close at hand. All is not lost when a 
thing turns out against you. 

You must not judge according to your 
present feeling, nor give yourself up to 
any grief no matter from what source it 
cometh, as if all hope of escape were 
taken away from you. 

4. Do not think yourself wholly aban- 
doned if for a time I have sent you some 
tribulation, or even have withdrawn 
your desired comfort ; for such is the 
way to the kingdom of heaven. 

And without doubt it is better for you 
and the rest of my servants that you 
should be disciplined by adversities, 
rather than that you should have all 
things according to your desire. 

I know the secret desires of your 
heart, and that it is far better for your 
welfare that you should be left some- 
times without spiritual enjoyment, for if 
it were not so you might be puffed up 



Craving Divine Aid 215 

with your prosperity, and believe your- 
self to be in a condition that you are not. 
All that I have given you I can take 
away ; and I can restore it again when I 
please. 

5. When I give anything it is still 
mine ; when I take it away I take noth- 
ing that is yours ; for every good and 
every perfect gift is mine. 1 

If I send you affliction, or any cross 
whatever, do not repine nor let your 
heart fail you ; I can quickly relieve 
you, and turn all your sorrow into joy. 

Nevertheless, I am righteous and 
greatly to be praised, when I choose to 
deal thus with you. 

6. If you are wise, and rightly con- 
sider this, you will never mourn so de- 
jectedly on account of any adversity, but 
will rather rejoice and give thanks. 

Yes, you will account it your especial 
joy that I afflict you with sorrows and 
do not spare you. 

"As my Father hath loved me, so 
have I loved you," 2 I said unto my be- 

1 James 1 : 17. 2 John 15 I q. 



216 To Find Out the Creator 

loved disciples ; whom I did not send 
out to temporal joys, but to great con- 
flicts ; not to honor, but to content ; not 
to idleness, but to labor ; not to rest, 
but that with patience they should bring 
forth much fruit. Remember these 
words, O my son. 



CHAPTER XXXI 

Of the Content of all Creatures, in Order 
to Find Out the Creator 

LORD, I stand much in need of yet 
greater grace, if it is thy will that 
I should reach that state, where 
neither man nor any creature shall be a 
hindrance unto me. 

For so long as anything holds me back, 
I cannot take freely my flight to thee. 

He desired to fly freely who said, " Oh, 
that I had wings like a dove, for then 
would I flee away and be at rest ! " l 

What is more restful than a whole- 
hearted devotion to God ? 2 and who is 

1 Ps. 55 : 6. 2 Matt. 6 : 22. 



To Find Out the Creator 217 

freer than he that desires nothing upon 
earth ? 

We ought therefore to mount above 
all creatures, and wholly to renounce 
ourselves, and to be in a sort of ecstasy 
of mind, and to see that thou, the Cre- 
ator of all things, hast nothing among 
creatures like unto thyself. 

Unless we are set free from all crea- 
tures, we cannot attend wholly unto di- 
vine things. 

For this reason there are few who are 
contemplative, and are able to withdraw 
themselves wholly from created and per- 
ishing things. 

2. To reach this state, there is need 
of much grace, that the soul may be ele- 
vated, and carried away above itself. 

Whatever one knows, and whatever 
he has, is of small account unless he is 
uplifted in spirit, and is freed from all 
creatures, and wholly united unto God. 

Whoever he is that esteems anything 
great, save the one only infinite, eternal 
Good, shall be little for a long while, and 
lie groveling below. 



218 To Find Out the Creator 

Whatever is not God is nothing, and 
ought to be considered as nothing. 

There is a wide difference between the 
wisdom of a man who is devout and 
taught of God, and the knowledge of a 
man learned and studious. 

Far nobler is that learning which comes 
from above, from the divine influence, 
than that which is gotten with much la- 
bor by the wit of man. 

3. There are many who desire con- 
templation, but they neglect to practise 
those things without which it cannot be 
attained. 

One great hindrance is that men rely 
upon signs and in the things of sense, and 
pay little heed to perfect mortification. 

I do not know how it is, nor by what 
spirit we are led, nor what we pretend, 
who seem to be called spiritual, when 
we take so much pains, and are so full of 
anxiety about passing and mean things, 
and so rarely think with full recollection 
of mind of our own inward concerns. 

4. Alas, after a slight recollection, we 
quickly rush again into outward things, 



To Find Out the Creator 219 

and do not carefully and diligently weigh 
our works. 

We do not heed where our affections 
lie, nor lament the impurity that is in all 
our actions. 

For "all flesh had corrupted his way," 
and because of that the great deluge 
came. 1 

Because the inward affection is much 
corrupted, the action coming from it must 
also be corrupted, and it is a proof of the 
absence of all inward strength. 

5. We ask how much a man has done ; 
but forget to consider the principle from 
which he acts. 

We inquire whether he is courageous, 
rich, handsome, skillful, a good writer, a 
good singer, or a good laborer ; but we 
seldom refer to how poor he is in spirit, 
how patient and meek, or how devout 
and spiritual. 

Nature respects the outward things of 
a man, but grace turns itself to the in- 
ward things. 

The one is often disappointed ; the 

1 Gen. 6 : 12 ; 7 : 21. 



220 Self- Dental 

other puts her trust in God, and so is 
not deceived. 



CHAPTER XXXII 

Of Self -Denial, and Renouncing Every 
Evil Appetite 

;TTTTYson, you cannot have perfect 

/ >/ I liberty unless you wholly re- 
4^|t?^ nounce yourself. 1 

All those who merely seek their own in- 
terest, and are lovers of themselves, are 
hound in fetters. They are covetous, 
curious, wanderers, always seeking that 
which is soft and delicate, instead of the 
things of Jesus Christ, and oftentimes 
planning and framing that which will 
not last. 

For all that is not of God shall perish. 

Never forget this short and perfect say- 
ing : V Forsake all and thou shalt find all." 

Ponder well on this, and when you 
have fulfilled it, you shall understand 
all things. 

1 Matt. 16 : 24 ; 19 : 8, 9. 



Self- Denial 221 

Lord, this is not the work of one day, 
nor is it children's sport ; but rather in this 
short sentence is included all perfection. 

My son, you ought never to turn back, 
nor to be cast down at once, when you 
hear of the way of the perfect ; but you 
should rather be stirred up to higher 
things, and at the least to sigh for them 
with longing desire. 

1 would it were with you, that you had 
arrived at the point when you are no 
longer a lover of yourself, but stand ready 
at my call, and at the call of him whom 
I have appointed a father over you ; then 
you should please me exceedingly, and 
all your life should pass away in joy and 
peace. 

You have yet many things to part with, 
which unless you resign unto me, you 
shall not reach to that which you desire. 

V I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried 
in the fire, that thou mayest become 
rich " j 1 that is heavenly wisdom which 
treads under foot all lower things. 

1 Rev. 3 : 18. 



222 Inconstancy of Heart 

Set little store upon earthly wisdom, 
and do not study to please others or 
yourself. I said that mean things must 
be bought with things which seem pre- 
cious and of great value among men. 

For true heavenly wisdom seems very 
mean, of small account, and almost for- 
gotten among men, and as having no 
high thoughts of itself, nor of seeking to 
be magnified upon earth. There are 
many, indeed, who praise it with their 
lips, but in their lives they are far from 
it ; and it is the precious pearl 1 which is 
hidden from many. 



CHAPTER XXXIII 

Of Inconstancy of Heart, and of Having 
our Final Intent Directed unto God. 



lgs, for whatever they happen 



f ,a f^" fpjY son, do not trust to your feel- 

*qKps^ to be now, they will soon quickly 
change toward some other thing. 

So long as you live, you are subject 

1 Matt. 13 : 40. 



Inconstancy of Heart 223 

to change, 1 even against your will ; so 
that at one time you are merry, and at 
another sad ; at one time quiet, at 
another troubled ; now devout, now un- 
devout ; now diligent, now listless ; now 
grave, and now trifling. 

But he who is wise and well instructed 
in the Spirit stands firm amid all these 
changing things ; paying no heed to 
what he feels in himself, or which way 
the wind of fickleness blows, so that the 
whole intent of his mind may be to the 
right and the best end. 

For in this way he will be able to con- 
tinue one and the same and unshaken, 
in the midst of so many different events 
continually directing the single eye of 
his intent unto me. 

2. And the purer the eye of the intent 
is, 2 with so much the more constancy 
does one pass through the several kinds 
of storms which assail him. But in many 
the eye of a pure intent grows dim, be- 
cause it is quickly drawn aside toward 
any pleasurable object which meets it. 

1 Job 14 : 2. 2 Matt. 6 : 22. 



224 God Precious Above all Things 

For it is rare to find one who is wholly 
free from all fault of self-seeking. As 
in the olden time the Jews came to Beth- 
any to Martha and Mary, not for the 
sake of Jesus only, but that they might 
also see Lazarus. 1 

The eye of our intent therefore should 
be purified, that it may be single and 
right 2 and it is to be directed unto me, 
beyond all the different earthly objects 
which come between. 



CHAPTER XXXIV 

That God is Precious Above all Things, 

an J In all Things, to him that 

Lovcfh Hi))i 

PEHOLD! my God and my all," 
what would I more, and what 
greater happiness can I desire ? 
Oh, sweet and delightful word ! but it 
is sweet and delightful to him only who 
loves the word, and loves not the world 
nor the things that are in the world. 

1 John 12 : o. 2 Matt. 6 : 22. 



God Precious Above all Things 225 

"My God, and my all ! " To him 
who understands, enough has been said ; 
and to him who loves, it is pleasant to 
repeat again and again. 

For when thou art present, all things 
yield delight ; but when thou art absent, 
everything becomes wearisome. 

Thou givest quietness of heart, and 
much peace, and pleasant joy. 

Thou makest us to take delight in all 
things, and in all things to praise thee ; 
neither can anything please us long 
without thee ; but if it is pleasant and 
grateful, it is because thy grace is pres- 
ent, and it must be seasoned with the 
sweetness of thy wisdom. 

2. What can there be that is pleasant 
to the taste for him who has a true relish 
for thee ? And what can be pleasant to 
him who has no relish for thee ? 

But the wise men of the world, and 
they who relish the things of the flesh, 
come short of thy wisdom; 1 for much 
vanity is found in the former, and in 
the latter is found death. 

1 1 Cor. 1 : 26 ; Rom. 8:511 John 2 : 16. 
P 



226 God Precious Above all Things 

But they are truly wise who follow 
thee in contempt of worldly things, and 
in mortification of the flesh ; for they 
are brought over from vanity to truth, 
and from the flesh to the spirit. 

It is they who relish God ; and whatever 
good they find in creatures, they wholly 
refer unto the praise of their Maker. 

But great, however, yes, very great 
is the difference between the sweetness 
of the Creator, between eternity and 
time, between light uncreated and the 
light that receives its light therefrom. 

3. O thou everlasting Light, surpass- 
ing all created lights, dart the beams of 
thy brightness from above, and pierce 
all the most inward parts of my heart. 

Purify, rejoice, enlighten, and enliven 
my spirit with all the powers of the light, 
that 1 may cleave unto thee with an 
abundance of joy and triumph. 

Oh, when will that blessed and longed 
for hour come, when thou wilt satisfy 
me with thy presence, and be all in all 
unto me ? I shall not have perfect joy 
until this is granted unto me. 



No Security from Temptation 227 

Still alas ! the old man lives within 
me: 1 he is not wholly crucified, he is not 
perfectly dead. But he still strives 
mightily against the Spirit, and stirs up 
inward wars, and does not suffer the 
kingdom of my soul to be in peace. 

4. But thou who rulest the powers of 
the sea, and stillest the rising of its 
waves, 2 arise and help me ! Scatter the 
nations that delight in war. 3 

Display thy greatness, I beseech thee, 
and let thy right hand be glorified, for 
there is no other hope or refuge for me, 
O Lord my God, save in thee. 4 

CHAPTER XXXV 

That There is no Security from Temp- 
tation in this Life 

^IP^jY son you are never secure in 

^-\Wi *^ s '^ e > k u *' s ° '° n § as y° u 

^fep^ live, 5 you shall always need 
spiritual armor. 

You live among enemies, and are 

iRom.7. 2 Ps. 89:9. 3 Ps. 68:30. *Ps. 31:14. 5 Job 7: 1. 



228 No Security from Temptation 

assaulted on the right hand and on 
the left. 1 

If therefore you do not defend your- 
self on either side with the shield of 
patience, you cannot be long without a 
wound. 

Moreover, if you do not fix your heart 
on me with a sincere willingness to suffer 
all things for me, you will not be able 
to bear the heat of this combat, nor 
attain the reward of the blessed. 

You ought therefore to go manfully 
through all, and to secure a strong hand 
against whatever withstands you. 

For to him who overcomes manna is 
given, but there remains much misery 
for the indolent. 

2. If your heart is fixed upon rest in 
this life, how will you attain to the ever- 
lasting rest ? 

Prepare yourself not for much rest, 
but for great patience. 

Do not seek true peace in earth, but 
in heaven ; not in men, nor in any other 
creature, except in God alone. 

1 2 Cor. 6 < 7. 



No Security from Temptation 229 

You ought cheerfully to undergo all 
things for the love of God, that is to 
say, all labor, grief, temptation, vexation, 
anxiety, necessity, infirmity, injury, de- 
traction, reproof, humiliation, shame, 
correction, and contempt. 

All these help to virtue ; they are the 
trial of a babe in Christ ; they form the 
heavenly crown. 

I will give an everlasting reward for a 
short labor, and infinite glory for brief 
shame. 

3. Do you think you shall always have 
spiritual consolation at your will ? 

My saints did not always have such, 
but they suffered many afflictions and 
many temptations and great discomforts. 

But in all of these they bore them- 
selves patiently, and trusted in God 
rather than in themselves, knowing that 
the sufferings of this life are not worthy 
to be compared to the future glory. 1 

Do you expect to have at once that 
which many have hardly obtained after 
many tears and great labors ? 

1 Rom. 8 : 18. 



230 Against the Vain Judgments of Men 

Wait for the Lord, behave yourself 
manfully, and be of good courage; 1 do 
not be faithless nor leave your place, 
but steadily expose both your body and 
soul for the glory of God. 

I will reward you most plentifully ; I 
will be with you in every tribulation. 



CHAPTER XXXVI 

Against the Vain Judgments of Men 
gjY son, rest your heart firmly on 




■ / \/ l the Lord, and do not tear the 
~~~ • judgment of men when your 
conscience testifies of your faithfulness 
and innocence. 

It is a good and happy thing to suffer 
in such a way ; nor will it be grievous 
to a heart which is humble and trusts 
rather in God than in itself. 

Most men are inclined to talk much, 
and therefore little to be trusted. 

Moreover, it is impossible to satisfy 
every one. 

1 Ps. 27 : 14. 



Against the Vain judgments of Men 231 

Although Paul tried to please all in the 
Lord, and as he said made himself all 
things unto all 1 men, yet he thought it 
a very small thing that he should be 
judged according to man's judgment. 2 

2. He did what lay in him, and as 
much as he was able for the edification 
and salvation of others ; yet he could 
not prevent himself from sometimes be- 
ing judged and despised by others. 

He therefore committed all to God, 
who knew all, and defended himself 
with patience and humility against un- 
just tongues, and against such as thought 
vanities and lies, and spoke boastfully 
whatever they chose. 

For fear that the weak should be of- 
fended by his silence, 3 he sometimes 
notwithstanding made answer. 

3. Who are you that is afraid of a 
mortal man ? To-day he is and to-mor- 
row he is not seen/ 

Fear God and you shall not need to 
shrink from the terrors of men. 

1 1 Cor. 9 : 22 ; 2 Cor. 4:2. 2 Col. 1 ; 1 Cor. 4 : 3. 
3 Acts 26 ; Phil. 1 : 14. 4 1 Mac. 2 : 62, 63. 



232 Freedom of Heart 

What harm can the words or injuries 
of any one do you ? He hurts himself 
rather than you, and whoever he may 
be he shall not be able to escape the 
judgment of God. 1 

Do you always have God before your 
eyes and do not contend with peevish 
words. 

And if for the time you seem to be 
worsted and to suffer undeserved shame, 
do not repine nor by your impatience 
lessen your crown. 2 But rather lift up 
your eyes to me in heaven, who am 
able to deliver you from all shame. 

CHAPTER XXXVII 

Of Pure and Entire Resignation for the 
Obtaining Freedom of Heart 

vCjY son, forsake yourself, and you 
shall find me. 3 Choose not any- 
thing and take not anything 
whatever to yourself, and you shall al- 
ways be a gainer. For the moment you 

1 Rom. 2:3; 1 Cor. 11 : 32. 2 Heb. 12 : 1, 2. 3 Matt. 16 : 24. 




Freedom of Heart 233 

have resigned yourself, and have not re- 
sumed your claim, greater grace shall be 
added to you. 

Lord, how often shall I resign myself, 
and in what way shall I forsake myself ? 

All ways and at every hour ; in small 
things as well as the great. I except 
nothing, but do desire that you be found 
stripped of all things. 

How can you otherwise be mine and I 
yours, unless you are stripped of all self- 
will, both within and without ? 

The sooner you do this the better it 
will be with you ; and the more fully and 
sincerely you do it, so much the more 
shall you please me and so much the 
greater shall be your gain. 

2. There are some who resign them- 
selves, but do so with exceptions, for 
they do not put their whole trust in God, 
and therefore they study how to divide 
for themselves. 

There are some also who at first offer 
all, but afterward when assailed with 



234 Freedom of Heart 

temptation they return again to their 
own ways, and consequently make no 
progress in the way of virtue. 

These shall not attain to the true lib- 
erty of a pure heart nor to the favor of 
my sweetest friendship, unless they first 
make an entire resignation and a daily 
offering of themselves. Without this 
there is not and never can be a fruitful 
union. 

3. I have very often said unto you, 
and now again I say the same thing, 
Forsake yourself, 1 resign yourself, and 
you shall enjoy much inward peace. 

Give all for all ; seek nothing, ask 
back nothing ; abide purely and with a 
firm confidence in me and you shall pos- 
sess me ; you shall be free in heart and 
darkness shall not tread you down. 

Let this be the whole aim of your life, 
your prayer and your desire ; that, being 
stripped of all selfishness, you may fol- 
low with entire simplicity Jesus only, 
and, dying to yourself, may live eter- 
nally to me. 

1 Matt. 16 : 24. 



Good Government of Ourselves 235 

Then will all vain imaginations, evil 
disturbances, and superfluous cares fly 
away. 

Then too, all immoderate fear shall 
leave you and worldly love shall die. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII 

Of Good Government of Ourselves in 

Things Outward and of Recourse 

to God in Dangers 

|^ifR}Y son, you ought to try with all 
WnyJwt diligence, that in every place and 
^|p^ action, and in all outward busi- 
ness, you shall be free inwardly and 
thoroughly master of yourself ; and that 
instead of being under all things they 
shall be under you. 

You must not be a servant or a hire- 
ling, but lord and master of your own 
actions. You should rather be as a free 
person and a true Hebrew, entering in to 
the lot and the freedom of the sons of God. 
For they stand above present things and 
look upon those that are eternal. 



236 Good Government of Ourselves 

They look on passing things with the 
left eye, and with the right eye behold 
the things of heaven. 

They cannot be drawn by temporal 
things so as to cleave unto them ; but 
rather they draw temporal things to serve 
them, and this too in such a way as they 
are ordained by God, and are appointed 
by the great Workmaster, who has left 
nothing in his creation without due order. 

2. If you too stand steadfast in all 
things, and do not estimate what you see 
and hear by the outward appearance, 
nor with a worldly eye ; but in every 
affair you enter at once with Moses into 
the tabernacle 1 to ask counsel of the 
Lord ; you shall sometimes hear the di- 
vine oracle and shall return instructed 
concerning many things, both present 
and to come. 

For Moses always had recourse to the 
tabernacle to decide doubts and ques- 
tions, and fled to the help of prayer for 
support unto dangers and the wicked- 
ness of men. So ought you in like man- 

1 Exod. 33 : 9. 



In Matters of Business 237 

ner to fly to the closet of your heart, 1 
praying very earnestly for the divine 
favor. 

For we read that Joshua and the chil- 
dren of Israel were for this cause de- 
ceived by the Gibeonites, because they 
did not ask counsel at the mouth of the 
Lord, 2 but giving credit too lightly to 
their fair words were deceived by their 
false piety. 

CHAPTER XXXIX 

That a Man should not be Overcareful 
in Matters of Business 

4Sjj||s)Y son, always commit your cause 

5rSMr *° me# ' w *" dispose °f it well 
*^h0^ and in due time. Wait for my 
ordering of it and you shall find it will 
be for your good. 

O Lord, I do most cheerfully commit 
all unto thee, for my care can little help. 
Would that I did not dweJJ so much on 

1 Matt. 6:6. 2 j osh , 9 , t4 



238 In Matters of Business 

future things, but gave myself up with- 
out a struggle to thy good pleasure. 

2. My son, a man often struggles vio- 
lently for something he desires, and 
when he reaches it his mind begins to 
change ; for man's affections do not con- 
tinue long fixed on one object, but they 
rather urge him from one thing to an- 
other. It is, therefore, no small help for 
a man to forsake himself even in the 
smallest things. 

3. The true profit of a man consists in 
the denying of himself, and he who thus 
denies himself lives in great freedom and 
safety. 

But the old enemy, 1 who always sets 
himself against all that are good, does not 
cease at any time from tempting, but 
lies in wait day and night to cast the 
careless, if he can, headlong into the 
snare of deceit. 

Therefore, " Watch ye, and pray," 
saith our Lord, " that ye enter not into 
temptation. " 2 

1 1 Peter 5:8. 2 Matt. 26 :4 i. 




Man Hath no Good Thing 239 

CHAPTER XL 

That Man Hath of Himself no Good 

Thing, nor Anything Whereof 

he can Glory 

IJ^ORD, what is man, that thou art 
mindful of him, or the son of man 
that thou visitest him ?" 1 What 
does man deserve that thou shouldst 
grant him thy favor ? 

O Lord, why should I complain if 
thou forsake me ? or if thou do not that 
which I desire, what can I justly say 
against thee ? 

This I can surely think and say : Lord, 
I am nothing, I can do nothing, I have 
nothing that is good of myself, but I am 
wanting in all things and am ever tend- 
ing to nothing. And unless thou help 
me and instruct me inwardly, I must be- 
come altogether lukewarm and careless. 

2. But thou, O Lord, art always the 
same and endurest forever ; 2 thou art 
always good, just, and holy, doing all 

1 Ps. 8 : 4. 2 Ps. T02 : 12. 



240 Man Hath no Good Thing 

things well, justly and holily, and order- 
ing all things with wisdom. 

But I, who am more ready to go back- 
ward than forward, never remain long of 
one mind, for "seven times are passed 
over me." ' 

But when it pleaseth thee it soon be- 
comes better with me when thou vouch- 
safest to stretch forth thy helping hand ; 
for thou alone canst help me without 
human aid, and canst so strengthen me 
that my resolution shall be no more 
changed, and my heart shall be turned 
to thee alone and be at rest. 

3. Wherefore, if I could at once per- 
fectly cast off all human comfort, either 
to attain devotion, or because mine own 
needs force me to seek after thee (since 
no mortal man could comfort me), then 
I might well hope in thy grace and re- 
joice for the gift of fresh consolation. 

4. Thanks be unto thee, from whom 
all things come, whenever it is well with 
me. But I am mere vanity and nothing 
in thy sight, one who is weak and never 

1 Dan. 4 : 16, 23, 32 



Man Hath no Good Thing 241 

continuing in one mind. Whereof then 
can I glory ? or for what do I wish to be 
respected ? is it because I am nothing ? 
Yet this is most vain. 

Mere empty glory is in truth an evil 
pest, a very great vanity ; because it 
draws one from true glory and robs him 
of heavenly grace. 

For when he pleases himself he dis- 
pleases thee ; when he gapes after the 
praise of men he loses true virtues. 

5. But the true glory and holy exalta- 
tion is for one to glory in thee 1 and not 
in himself ; to rejoice not in his own 
strength but in thy name, and not to de- 
light in any creature except for thy sake. 

Praised be thy name, not mine ; mag- 
nified be thy work, not mine. Let thy 
holy name be blessed, but let no part of 
men's praises be given to me. 2 

Thou art my glory and the joy of my 
heart. 

In thee will I glory and rejoice all the 
day, but as for myself I will not glory, 
except in my infirmities. 

1 Hab. 3 : 18. 2 Ps. 113 : 3 ; 115 : 1. 



242 Contempt of Temporal Honor 

6. Let the Jews seek honor one from 
another, 1 I will seek that which comes 
from God alone. 

For all human glory, all temporal 
honor, all worldly height, when com- 
pared with thy eternal glory is vanity 
and folly. 

O my God, my Truth, and my Mercy, 
O blessed Trinity, to thee alone be 
praise, honor, power, and glory forever 
and ever. 

CHAPTER XLI 

Of the Contempt of All Temporal Honor 

fJEBSY son, do not trouble yourself if 
JffflM you see others honored and ad- 
T^p?? 1 vanced while you are contemned 
and debased. . 

Lift up your heart into the heaven to 
me and you shall not be grieved by the 
contempt of men on earth. 

Lord, we are blind and are quickly led 
astray by vanity. 

1 John 5 : 14. 



Our Peace 243 



If I rightly examine myself I cannot 
say that any creature has ever done me 
wrong, and therefore I cannot justly com- 
plain before thee. 

2. But since I have often and griev- 
ously sinned against thee it is just for all 
creatures to take up arms against me. 

Therefore shame and contempt is 
justly due unto me, but praise, honor, 
and glory belong unto thee. 

And unless I prepare myself with 
cheerful willingness to be despised, and 
to be considered altogether as nothing, 
I cannot obtain inward peace and stabil- 
ity, nor be spiritually enlightened nor be 
fully united unto thee. 

CHAPTER XLII 

That our Peace is not to be Set on Men 

i|Y son, if you rest your peace on 
Wmv an y one because of the opinion 
=^^^ you have formed of him, or be- 
cause of your close acquaintance with 
him, you shall always be inconstant and 



244 Our Peace 

enslaved. But if you have recourse unto 
the ever-living and abiding Truth, the 
departure or death of a friend shall not 
grieve you. 

Your regard for your friend ought to 
be grounded in me ; and he is to be be- 
loved for my sake, whoever he may be 
that you think well of, and who is very 
dear to you in this life. 

Friendship has no strength and no con- 
tinuance without me ; neither is that love 
true and pure, which is not knit by me. 
You ought to be so dead to such affection 
toward your friends, that (as much as 
belongs to you) you should be willing to 
be without all human friendship. The 
farther you depart from all earthly com- 
fort, the nearer you approach unto God. 
And the lower you descend in yourself, 
and the meaner you become in your own 
sight, the higher you ascend toward God. 

But he who takes credit for any good 
unto himself, hinders the entry of God's 
grace ; for the grace of the Holy Spirit 
always seeks a humble heart. 1 

1 i Peter 5 : 5. 



Secular Knowledge 245 

If you knew perfectly how to make 
yourself as nothing, and how to empty 
yourself of all created love, then I should 
be constrained to flow into thee with 
great abundance of grace. 

When you have love for creatures, the 
sight of the Creator is withdrawn. 

Learn to overcome yourself in all things 
for the love of your Creator, and then 
you shall be able to attain to divine 
knowledge. 

No matter how small anything may 
be, if it is inordinately loved and re- 
garded, it keeps you back from the high- 
est good, and defiles the soul. 



CHAPTER XLIII 

Against Vain and Secular Knowledge 

j9| WflY son > do not let the sayings of 
/ K? men move y° u > however fair and 
^^S^promising they may be. "For 
the kingdom of God consisteth not in 
words but in power. " l 

1 1 Cor. 4 : 20. 



246 Secular Knowledge 

Observe well my words, for they in- 
spire the heart, and enlighten the mind ; 
they cause a tender conscience, and carry 
with them many a consolation. 

Never read the word of God in order 
to appear more learned or more wise. 

Be watchful to overcome your sins ; 
for it will, profit you more than the knowl- 
edge of many difficult questions. 

2. When you shall have read and 
learned many things, you ought always 
to return to the one beginning and the 
one principle. 

1 am He who teacheth man knowledge ; 
and I give unto little children a clearer un- 
derstanding than can be taught by man. 

He, therefore, to whom I speak, shall 
quickly become wise, and shall profit 
much in the Spirit. Woe be to them 
that seek after many curious things of 
men, and care little about the way of 
serving me ! 

The time will come, when the Master of 
masters, Christ the Lord of angels, shall 
appear to hear the lessons of all, that is, 
to examine the consciences of every one. 



Secular Knowledge 247 

And then he will search Jerusalem with 
candles; and the hidden things of dark- 
ness shall be brought to light, 1 and the 
arguings of men's tongues shall be silent. 

3. I am he who in one instant raises 
up the humble mind, so that one shall 
understand more reasonings of eternal 
truth than if he had studied for ten years 
m the schools. I teach without noise of 
words, without confusion of opinions, 
without the desire for honor, without 
bandying of arguments. 

I am he who instructs men to despise 
earthly things, to loathe things present, 
to seek things heavenly, to relish things 
eternal, to flee honors, to endure offenses, 
to place all hope in me, to desire nothing 
out of me, and above all things ardently 
to love me. 

4. A certain one by loving me entirely 
became instructed in divine things and 
was accustomed to speak that which 
was admirable. He profited more by 
forsaking all things, than by studying 
those things that were difficult. But I 

1 Zeph. 1 : 12 ; 1 Cor. 4 : 5. 



248 Attracting Outward Things 

speak common things to some men, and 
uncommon things to others ; I appear 
sweetly by signs and figures to some, 
but to others I reveal mysteries with 
much light. 

The voice of books is indeed one, but 
it does not instruct all alike ; for I am 
the teacher of the truth within, I am the 
searcher of the heart, the discerner of 
the thoughts, the mover of actions, giv- 
ing to every man as I judge proper. 



CHAPTER XLIV 

Of not Attracting to Ourselves 
Outward Things 

1*111 Y son, it is your duty to be igno- 
re rant in many things, and to con- 
sider yourself as one to whom 
the world is crucified. " Far be it from 
me to glory, save in the cross of our 
Lord Jesus Christ, " Saint Paul says, 
"through which the world hath been cru- 
cified unto me." l 

1 Gal. 6 : 14. 



Attracting Outward Things 249 

You must also pass by many things 
with a deaf ear, and think rather of those 
that belong unto your peace. 

It is more useful to turn away one's 
eyes from unpleasing things, and to leave 
every one to his own opinion, than it is 
to be a slave to quarrelsome discussions. 

If all stand well betwixt you and God, 
and if you have his judgment in your 
mind, you shall the more easily submit 
to defeat. 

2. O Lord, to what a pass are we 
come ! Behold, we lament a temporal 
loss ; we toil and run for a pitiful gain ; 
we spend money for that which is not 
bread, and labour for that which satis- 
fieth not ; and the spiritual losses of our 
soul are forgotten and hardly return at 
last to the memory. 

We heed that which profits us little or 
nothing, while that which is especially 
necessary, we pass slightly over ; be- 
cause the whole man slides off into out- 
ward things ; and unless he speedily re- 
pent, he willingly settles down in them. 



250 Man Prone to Offend 

CHAPTER XLV 

That Credit is Not to be Given to All, 

and that Man is Prone to 

Offend in Words 

PtRANT me help, O Lord, in tribula- 
- tion, for vain is the help of man. 1 
How often have I been deceived, 
finding no faithfulness where I thought 
myself sure ! And how often have I 
found it where 1 had least expected it. 
It is vain, therefore, to trust in men, but 
the salvation of the righteous is of thee, 
O God. Blessed be thou, O Lord my 
God, in all things that befall us. We 
are weak and fickle ; we are quickly de- 
ceived and soon changed. 

2. Who is he, that is able in all things 
so wisely to keep himself, as never to 
fall into any deceit or trouble ? 

But he who trusts in thee, O Lord, and 
seeks thee with a single heart, does not 
fall so easily. 2 And if he does fall into 
any tribulation, no matter how much he 

1 Ps. 6o : ii. 2 Prov. 10 : 2q. 



Man Prone to Offend 251 

s entangled, he shall either be quickly 
delivered through thee, or be comforted 
oy thee ; for thou wilt not forsake him 
who trusts in thee, even to the end. 

It is rare that a friend is found who 
continues faithful in all his friend's dis- 
tresses. Thou, O Lord, even thou alone 
art most faithful at all times, and there 
is none like unto thee. 

3. Oh, how wise was that holy souT 
that said, " My mind is firmly settled and 
grounded in Christ. " If it were so with 
me, then human fear would not easily 
vex me, nor the darts of words move me. 

Who can foresee all things ? Who 
is able to know beforehand of evils to- 
come ? If things that are foreseen often 
hurt us, how can those things that are 
not looked for do otherwise than wound 
us grievously ? 

But wretched that I am, why did I not 
better provide for myself ? Why also 
was I so ready to trust others ? 

But all of us are very frail, although 
there may be many who consider and 
call us angels. 



252 Man Prone to Offend 

To whom, O Lord, shall I give credit, 
to whom but to thee ? Thou art the 
truth, which neither deceives nor can 
be deceived. And on the other side, 
"every man is a liar," 1 weak, incon- 
stant, and liable to fall, especially in 
words ; and therefore we must not at 
once give credit to that which seems at 
first to sound aright. 

4. Oh, with what wisdom hast thou 
warned us to be aware of men ; and be- 
cause one's foes are they of his own 
household, 2 not immediately to believe 
if one should say, Lo here, or Lo there. 

My hurt has been my instructor, and 
oh, that 1 might thereby increase not my 
folly but my caution. 

" Be wary," says one, "be wary 
again, keep to yourself what I tell 
you " ; and while I hold my peace, and 
think it is secret, he himself cannot keep 
that which he desired me to keep, but 
presently betrays both me and himself, 
and is gone. From such tales and such 
indiscreet persons protect me, O Lord, 

1 Rom. 3:4. 2 Mic. 7 : 6. 



Man Prone to Offend 255 

that I neither fall into their hands, nor 
ever commit such things myself. 

Grant me to observe truth and con- 
stancy in my words, and remove a de- 
ceitful tongue far from me. That which 
I am not willing to suffer in others I 
ought by all means to avoid myself. 

5. Oh, how good it is, and how it 
tends to peace to be silent about other 
persons, and not to be quick to believe 
all that is said, nor to be eager to report 
what we have heard. 1 

How good it is to give only a few our 
confidence, and always to be seeking 
after thee who art the searcher of the 
heart. 2 

Nor should we be carried about with 
every wind of words, but we should de- 
sire that all things, both within and with- 
out, be done according to the pleasure 
of thy will. 

How safe it is for the keeping of 
heavenly grace to avoid appearances, 
and not to seek those things that are 
praised by others, but to follow dill- 

1 Prov. 25 : q. 2 Isa, 26 : 3. 



.254 Putting Our Trust in God 

gently the things which bring improve- 
ment of life and zeal. 

6. To how many has virtue itself, 
known and too hastily commended, been 
hurtful ! 

How profitable grace has been when 
preserved in silence in this frail life, 
which is all temptation and warfare. 



CHAPTER XLVI 

Of Putting our Trust in God When 
Evil Words Arise 

:^S^gY son, stand firmly, and put your 
i J y V trust in me ; ] for what are words 
^^^ but mere words ? They fly 
through the air but do not hurt the rock. 

If you are guilty see that you are will- 
ing to improve yourself ; if conscience 
does not reproach you, resolve to suffer 
willingly for God's sake. 

It is only a small matter to suffer some- 
times a few words if you have not yet 
the courage to endure hard strife. And 

1 Ps. 37 : 3- 



Putting Our Trust in God 255 

why is it that such small matters go to 
your heart, except that you are still 
worldly and regard men more than you 
ought ? It is because you are afraid to 
be despised, that you are not willing to 
be reproved for your faults, but seek 
the shelter of excuses. 

2. But look better into yourself and 
you shall acknowledge that the world is 
yet alive in you, and that you have a 
vain desire to please men. 

For when you try to avoid being abased 
and reproved for your faults, it is certain 
that you are neither truly humble, nor 
truly dead to the world nor is the world 
crucified to you. Give diligent attention 
to my words and you shall not regard 
ten thousand words spoken by men. 

Suppose that all that could be ma- 
liciously invented should be spoken 
against you, in what way would it hurt 
you if you suffered it to pass entirely 
away and made no more reckoning of it 
than of a note ? could it pluck so much 
as a single hair from your head ? * 

1 Matt. 10 : 30 ; Luke 12 : 7. 



256 Putting Our Trust in God 

3. But he who has no heart within him 
and has not God before his eyes is easily 
moved by a word of blame. 

But he who trusts in me and has no 
wish to trust in his own judgment, shall 
be free from all fear of men. 

For I am the judge 1 and the discerner 
of all secrets : I know all about the 
matter ; I know him who offered the in- 
jury and him who suffered it. From me 
has this proceeded ; this has happened 
by my permission that the thoughts of 
many hearts might be made known. 2 I 
shall judge the guilty and the innocent, 
but it is by a secret judgment that I 
would prove both of them beforehand. 

4. The testimony of men often de- 
ceives, but my judgment is true ; it shall 
stand and not be overthrown. It is gen- 
erally hidden, and known in all respects 
to only a few ; yet it never errs, neither 
can it err, although it seems not right to 
the eyes of the foolish. You should, there- 
fore, have recourse to me in every judg- 
ment, and not lean on your own opinion. 

1 Ps. 7 : 8. 2 Luke 2 : 35. 



Putting Our Trust in God 257 

For the just man will not be moved, 1 
whatever may befall him from God ; 
and if any unjust charge is brought 
against him he will be little troubled. 

Neither will he rejoice, if by means of 
others he is proven to be right. 

For he remembers that I am he who 
searches the heart and reins, 2 and does 
not judge according to the outside, nor 
according to human appearance. 

For often in my sight a thing is found 
worthy of blame, which in the judg- 
ment of men is thought to be worthy 
of praise. 

O Lord God, the just judge, strong 
and patient, thou who knowest the 
frailty and wickedness of men, be thou 
my strength and all my trust, for mine 
own conscience sufficeth me not. 

Although I know nothing against my- 
self, 3 still I cannot thereby justify my- 
self ; for without thy mercy no living 
*nan shall be justified in thy sight. 4 

1 Prov. 12 : 13. 2 Ps. 7:9; Rev. 2 : 23. 

8 1 Cor. 4:4. 4 Ps. 143 : 2. 



258 Grievous Things to be Endured 

CHAPTER XLVII 

That All Grievous Things are to be En- 
dured for the Sake of Eternal Life 

|?|p yt&sY son, be not alarmed by the pain- 
V / VIM f u ' labors which you have under- 
^^^ taken for me, nor utterly cast 
down because of any tribulations which 
befall you ; but let my promise strengthen 
and comfort you in everything. 

1 am able to reward you beyond all 
measure and degree. You shall not toil 
long here and shall not always be op- 
pressed with grief. 

Wait a little while and you shall see a 
speedy end of your evils. 

The hour will come when all labor and 
trouble shall cease. 

Poor and brief is all that which passes 
away with time. 

2. Do with your might whatever you 
do; labor faithfully in my vineyard; 1 
I will be your reward. Write, read, 
mourn, keep silence, pray, suffer crosses 

1 Matt. 20 : 7. 



Grievous Things to be Endured 259 

manfully ; life everlasting is worthy of 
all these, yea, it is worthy of greater 
combats. 

Peace shall come in that day which is 
known unto the Lord, and it shall be 
neither day nor night, 1 such as now is, 
but everlasting light, infinite brightness, 
steadfast peace, and secure rest. 

And when it comes you shall not say, 
"Who shall deliver me from the body 
of this death ? " 2 nor cry, V Woe is me, 
that I sojourn in Mesech!" 3 for death 
shall be cast down headlong, and there 
shall be salvation which cannot fail ; 
there shall be no more anxious thoughts, 
but blessed joy and sweet and lovely 
company. 

3. Oh, if you had seen the everlasting 
crowns of the saints in heaven, 4 and had 
seen the great glory in which those now 
rejoice who in times past were despised 
by this world and considered unworthy 
of life itself ; then truly you would 
quickly humble yourself even unto the 

1 Zech. 14 : 7. 2 Rom. 7 : 24. 3 Ps. 120 : 5. 

4 Wisd. 3 : 1-9 ; 5 : x6. 



260 Grievous Things to be Endured 

dust, and would rather seek to be under 
the feet of all than to have command 
over even a single one. 

Neither would you long for the pleas- 
ant days of this life, but would rather 
rejoice to suffer affliction for God and 
look upon it as your greatest gain to be 
thought as nothing among men. "For 
our light affliction, which is for the mo- 
ment, worketh for us more exceedingly 
an eternal weight of glory. H 

4. Oh, if you had a love of these 
things and suffered them to sink into the 
bottom of your heart, how could you so 
much as once complain ? 

Are not all painful labors to be borne 
for the sake of eternal life ? 

It is no small matter to lose or to gain 
the kingdom of God. 

Lift up your face, therefore, unto 
heaven ; behold, I and all my saints 
who in this world had great conflicts do 
now rejoice with me and they are now 
comforted, secure and at rest, and they 
shall remain everlastingly with me in 
the kingdom of my Father. 



This Life's Straitnesses 261 

CHAPTER XLVIII 

Of the Day of Eternity and This Life's 
Straitnesses 

fMOST blessed mansion of the city 
that is above ! l O most clear 
day of eternity which night does 
not obscure, but which is ever enlight- 
ened by the highest truth ! O ever 
joyful day, ever secure, and never chang- 
ing into a different state ! 

Oh, that that day would once appear 
and that all these worldly things were at 
an end ! 

It shines to the saints and glows with 
everlasting brightness, but it appears 
only afar off, and as if seen through 
the glass to those that are pilgrims on 
the earth. 

2. The citizens of heaven do know 
how joyful that day is, but the ban- 
ished children of Eve bewail the bitter- 
ness and tediousness of this day. The 
days of this life are short and evil, 2 and 

1 Rev. 21 : 2. 2 Job 7. 



262 This Life's Straitnesses 

they are full of sorrow and straitnesses 
or difficulties. 

In this life we are defiled with many 
sins, ensnared with many passions, held 
fast by many fears, racked with many 
cares, distracted with many curiosities, 
entangled with many vanities, sur- 
rounded by many errors, worn with 
many labors, burdened with many temp- 
tations, weakened by pleasures, tor- 
mented with want. 

3. Oh, when shall these evils be at an 
end ? When shall I be delivered from 
the wretched bondage of my sins ? * 
When shall I be thoughtful, O Lord, of 
thee alone ? 2 When shall 1 rejoice fully 
in thee ? 

When shall I enjoy true liberty with- 
out any hindrances and without any 
trouble of mind and body ? 

When shall I have solid peace, peace 
that is secure and undisturbed, peace 
within and peace without ; peace that is 
every way assured ? 

O merciful Jesus, when shall I stand 

1 Rom. 7 : 24. 2 Ps. 71 : 16. 



This Life's Straitnesses 263 

to behold thee ? When shall I contem- 
plate the glory of thy kingdom ? When 
wilt thou be all in all unto me ? 

Oh, when shall I be with thee in thy 
kingdom which thou hast prepared for 
thy beloved from all eternity ? 

I am left, poor and banished, in the 
land of my enemies where there are 
daily wars and great calamities. 

4. Comfort me in my banishment, for 
my whole desire sighs after thee. For 
whatever this world offers for my conso- 
lation is burdensome to me. 

I long to enjoy thee in my inmost soul, 
but I cannot attain unto such enjoyment. 
My desire is to be wholly given up to 
heavenly things, but worldly things and 
unsubdued passions weigh me down. I 
wish with the mind to be above all things, 
but the flesh forces me against my will 
to be beneath all things. 

Thus, unhappy person that I am, 1 I 
fight against myself and have become 
grievous to myself, while my spirit seeks 
to be above and my flesh to be below. 

1 Rom. 7 : 24 ; 8 : 23. 



264 This Life's Strait nesses 

5. Oh, how much I inwardly suffer 
when I dwell in my mind on heavenly 
things, and presently a multitude of 
worldly fancies rise up to me in my 
prayers ! O my God, be not thou far 
from me and do not turn away in wrath 
from thy servant. 1 

Cast forth thy lightning and disperse 
these fancies ; shoot out thine arrows 
and let all the imagination of the enemy 
be confounded. 

Gather in and call home my senses 
unto thee ; make me to forget all wordly 
things ; enable me to cast speedily away 
and to despise all the imaginings of 
wickedness. 

Sustain me, O thou, the everlasting 
truth, that I be not moved by any vanity. 
Come, thou heavenly sweetness, to me, 
and make all impurity flee from before 
thy face. Pardon me also, and deal 
gently in mercy with me as often as 1 
think in prayer on aught besides thee. 

I must truly confess that I am often 
subject to many distractions. 

1 Ps. 71 : 12. 



This Life's Straitnesses 265 

For many times I am not there, where 
I stand or sit, but am rather where my 
thoughts carry me. Where my thoughts 
are, there am I, and commonly my 
thoughts are where my affection is. 
That which by nature is delightful, or 
by custom is pleasing, occurs too readily 
to me. 

6. Because thou art truth itself thou 
hast plainly said, Where thy treasure is 
there will thy heart be also. 1 If I love 
heaven I willingly muse on heavenly 
things. If I love the world I rejoice at 
the happiness of the world and grieve 
for its adversity. 

If I love the flesh I shall often like those 
things that are pleasing to the flesh. 

If I love the Spirit I shall delight to 
think on spiritual things. 

For I willingly speak and hear of 
whatever I love and carry home with 
me the images thereof. 

But blessed is the man 2 who for thy 
sake, O Lord, is willing to part with 
all creatures, who does violence to his 

1 Matt. 6 : 21. 2 Matt. 19. 



266 The Desire of Everlasting Life 

nature and through fervor of spirit cruci- 
fies the lusts of the flesh ; so that thereby 
he may offer prayers unto thee with a 
serene conscience and excluding all 
earthly things both outwardly and in- 
wardly, he may be fitted to be admitted 
into the choirs of the angels. 



CHAPTER XLIX 

Of the Desire of Everlasting Life and How 

Great Rewards are Promised to Those 

That Strive Resolutely 

iS)|j|Y son, when you see the desire 
j\ \l\ °* cvertastirig bliss is giveri you 
^m^r" from above, and you long to de- 
part from this body that you may con- 
template my brightness without shadow 
of turning, then open wide your heart 
and receive this holy inspiration with 
your whole desire. Give deepest thanks 
to the heavenly goodness, which treats 
you with such condescension, mercifully 
visiting you, fervently stirring you up, 
powerfully sustaining you, lest through 



The Desire of Everlasting Life 267 

your own weight you fall down to 
earthly things. 

Nor do you obtain this by your own 
thought or effort, but through the con- 
descension of heavenly grace and divine 
favor in order that you may make further 
progress in all virtue, obtain greater hu- 
mility, prepare yourself for future con- 
flicts, strive to cleave unto me with the 
whole affection of your heart and to 
serve me with fervent willingness. 

2. My son, the fire often burns but 
the flame does not ascend without smoke. 
So likewise the desires of some men burn 
toward heavenly things, and yet they 
are not free from the temptations of 
worldly affection. And therefore it is 
not wholly from a pure desire for the 
honor of God that they make such 
earnest requests to him. Such also are 
often your desires which you have pre- 
tended to be so serious and earnest. 
For those desires which are tainted with 
self-love are not pure and perfect. 

3. Ask not for that which is delightful 
and profitable to you, but for that which 



268 The Desire of Everlasting Life 

is acceptable to me and which tends to 
my honor ; for if you judge aright you 
ought to prefer and follow my wishes 
rather than your own desire, or any- 
thing whatever that is to be desired. 

I know your desire and have heard 
your frequent groanings. 

You long to enjoy now the glorious 
liberty of the sons of God ; you delight 
now to be in the everlasting habitation, 
your heavenly home full of joy ; but that 
hour is not come ; there still remains 
another time which is a time of war, 1 a 
time of labor and of trial. You desire to 
be filled with the chiefest good, but you 
cannot attain it as yet. I am he ; wait 
for me (saith the Lord) until the kingdom 
of God shall come. 

4. You are still to be tried upon earth 
and to be disciplined in many things. 

Comfort shall sometimes be given 
you but its abundant fullness shall not 
be granted. Take courage, therefore, 
and be brave, 2 in doing as well as in suf- 
fering things that are contrary to nature. 

1 Job 7:1. 2 Josh. 1 : 7. 



The Desire of Everlasting Life 269 

It is your duty to put on the new man L 
and to be changed into another man. 

It is your duty often to do what you 
would not do ; it is your duty to leave 
undone what you would do. 

That which pleases others shall go 
well forward, but that which pleases 
you shall not hasten. 

That which others say shall be heard, 
but what you say shall be considered as 
nothing ; others shall ask and shall re- 
ceive ; you shall ask but shall not obtain. 

5. Others shall be praised by men 
but not a word shall be said about you. 
This or that shall be committed to others, 
but you shall be looked upon as a thing 
of no use. At this your nature will 
sometimes be troubled, and it is a great 
thing if you bear it with silence. And 
these and many similar things, the faith- 
ful servant of the Lord is often tried as- 
to how far he can deny and break his 
will in all things. 

There is scarcely anything in which 
you have so much need to die to your- 

1 Eph. 4 : 24. 



270 The Desire of Everlasting Life 

self as in seeing and suffering those 
things that are opposed to your will, es- 
pecially when you are commanded to do 
those things which seem inconvenient 
or useless to you. 

And because, being under authority, 
you dare not resist the higher power, it 
therefore seems hard to you to follow 
another's command and to feel that you 
must give up all your own will. 

6. But think, my son, of the fruit of 
these labors, of the end near at hand, 
and of the exceeding great reward, and 
you will not grudge to bear them ; rather 
you will have the strongest comfort from 
your patience. For instead of the little 
of your will which you now give up so 
readily, you shall always have your will 
in heaven. 

Yea, there you shall find all you can 
wish, all that you shall be able to desire. 
There you shall have within your reach 
all good without the fear of losing it. 
There your will shall be ever one with 
me ; it shall not covet any outward or 
selfish thing. There none shall oppose 



The Desire of Everlasting Life 271 

you, no one shall complain of you, no 
one hinder you, nothing come in your 
way ; but all things that you can desire 
shall be present there, and shall refresh 
your whole affection and fill it up to the 
brim. There I will give you glory for 
the reproach which you have suffered 
here ; I will give you the garment of 
praise for heaviness, and for the lowest 
place I will give you a kingly throne for- 
ever. There the fruit of obedience shall 
appear, the labor of repentance shall re- 
joice, and humble subjection shall be 
gloriously crowned. 

7. For the present then, bend yourself 
humbly under all and care nothing for 
who said this or commanded it. 

But take especial care, that whether 
your superior or your inferior or your 
equal require anything of you, or does 
but hint his desire, you take it all in good 
part and endeavor with a sincere will to 
fulfill it. 

Let one seek this, another that ; let 
this man glory in this, the other in that, 
and be praised a thousand, thousand 



272 Into the Hands of God 

times ; but do you rejoice neither in this 
nor in that, but in the contempt of your- 
self and in the good pleasure and honor 
of me alone. 

All this is what you are to wish, that 
whether it be by life or by death, God 
may be always glorified in you. 



CHAPTER L 

How the Desolate Ought to Give Up 
Himself Into the Hands of God 

| LORD God, holy Father, be thou 
1|M) blessed both now and for ever- 

p more, because as thou wilt so is 
it done, and what thou doest is good. 

Let thy servant rejoice not in himself 
nor in anything else but in thee ; for thou 
alone art the true gladness, thou art my 
hope and my crown, thou art my joy and 
my honor, O Lord. 

What does thy servant have, except 
what he has received from thee, 1 and that 
without any merit of his ? All things 

1 i Cor. 4 : 7. 



Into the Hands of God 273 

are thine, both what thou hast given and 
what thou hast made. I am poor and 
have been in trouble from my youth j 1 
and sometimes my soul is sorrowful, 
even unto tears ; sometimes also it is 
disturbed within itself because of suffer- 
ings which hang over me. 

2. I long for the joy of peace, I ear- 
nestly crave the peace of thy children 
who are fed by thee in the light of thy 
comfort. 

If thou give peace, if thou pour holy 
joy into my heart, the soul of thy serv- 
ant shall be full of melody and shall 
become devout in thy praise. 

But if thou withdraw thyself (as thou 
dost many times), he will not be able to 
run the way of thy commandments ; but 
rather he will bow his knees and smite his 
breast, because it is not with him now 
as it was in past times, when thy candle 
shone upon his head and he was protected 
under the shadow of thy wings from the 
temptations which assaulted him. 

3. O righteous Father, who art ever 

1 Ps. 88 : 15. 
S 



274 Into the Hands of God 

to be praised, the hour is come when thy 
servant is to be proved. 

O beloved Father, it is meet and right 
that in this hour thy servant should suf- 
fer somewhat for thy sake. 

O Father, who art evermore to be 
honored, the hour is come which thou 
didst foreknow from all eternity should 
come ; that thy servant should be out- 
wardly oppressed for a short time, but 
inwardly should ever live with thee. 

That he should be despised and hum- 
bled for a little while, and should fail in 
the sight of men and be wasted with 
sufferings and weaknesses ; that he 
might rise again with thee in the morn- 
ing dawn of the new light and be glori- 
fied in heaven. 

Holy Father, thou hast so ordered it 
and wilt have it so, and that which is 
fulfilled is what thyself hast commanded. 

4. For it is a favor to thy friend that 
he may suffer and be afflicted in the 
world for love of thee, no matter how 
often nor by whom thou permittest such 
trials to befall him. 



Into the Hands of God 275 

Nothing cometh to pass in the earth 
without thy counsel and providence nor 
without cause. 

It is good for me, Lord, that thou hast 
humbled me, so that I may learn thy 
righteous judgments and cast away all 
haughtiness of heart and all presumption. 

It is profitable for me that shame hath 
covered my face, that I may turn to thee 
rather than to men for consolation. 

I have also learned to dread thine un- 
searchable judgments, thou who afflictest 
the just with the wicked, though the 
afflictions are not without equity and 
justice. 

5. I give thee thanks because thou 
hast not spared my sins, but hast worn 
me down with bitter stripes, inflicting 
sorrows and sending anxieties upon me 
within and without. 

There is none else under heaven who 
can comfort me but thou only, O Lord my 
God, the heavenly physician of souls, 
who woundest and healest, who bringest 
down to hell and bringest back again. 1 

1 Tob. 13:2; Ps. 18 : 16. 



276 Into the Hands of God 

Thy discipline shall be over me and 
thy rod itself shall instruct me. 

6. Behold, O beloved Father, I am in 
thy hands and I bow myself under the 
rod of thy correction. 

Strike my back and my neck too, so 
that my crookedness may be molded to 
thy will. 

Make me a dutiful and humble disciple 
of thine (as thou hast been accustomed 
to do me good), that I may be ready at 
every call of thy divine pleasure. 

I commend myself and all mine unto 
thee to be corrected : it is better to be 
punished here than hereafter. 

Thou knowest everything, and there 
is no secret of man which can be hidden 
from thee. Thou knowest all that will 
come to pass before anything is done 
and hast no need of any one to teach 
thee, or to tell thee of those things which 
are being done on the earth. Thou 
knowest what is best for my spiritual 
progress and how greatly tribulation 
serves to scour off the rust of my sins. 

Do with me according to thy good 



Into the Hands of God 277 

pleasure and cast me not off because of 
my sinful life, known to none so thor- 
oughly and clearly as to thee alone. 

7. Grant me, O Lord, to know that 
which is worth knowing, to love that 
which is worth loving, to praise that 
which pleaseth thee most, to esteem 
highly that which to thee is precious, 
and to abhor that which is filthy and 
unclean in thy sight. 

Suffer me not to judge according to 
that which my eyes see, nor to give sen- 
tence according to that which is heard 
by the ears of ignorant men ; but with a 
true judgment to understand between 
things visible and things spiritual, and 
above all to be ever searching after the 
good pleasure of thy will. 

8. The minds of men are often de- 
ceived in their judgments ; the lovers 
of the world are deceived too, in loving 
only those things that are visible. 

In what respect is a man ever the bet- 
ter for being esteemed great by man ? 

The deceitful in flattering the deceit- 
ful, the vain man in praising the vain, 



278 Works of Humility 

the blind in commending the blind, the 
weak in magnifying the weak, deceiveth 
him ; and in truth he rather puts him 
to shame while praising him so vainly. 
For every one is what he is in thy sight 
and no more. 



CHAPTER LI 

That a Man Ought to Employ Himself in 

Works of Humility When Strength is 

Wanting for Higher Employment 

IfKW^ son ' y° u aie not a ble always to 
/ ■■ VJilt continue in the more fervent de- 
^c^^ sire of virtue nor to persist in 
the higher pitch of contemplation ; but 
sometimes you must, by reason of origi- 
nal sin, descend to inferior things and 
bear the burden of this sinful life, though 
it be against your will and cause you 
wearisomeness. So long as you carry a 
mortal body you shall feel weariness and 
heaviness of heart. 

You ought, therefore, often to bewail 
in the flesh these burdens of the flesh, 



Works of Humility 279 

for you cannot employ yourself unceas- 
ingly in spiritual studies and in divine 
contemplation. 

2. Then it is wise for you to flee to 
humble and outward works and to re- 
fresh yourself with good actions, await- 
ing with a firm confidence my coming 
and heavenly visitation, and bearing 
patiently your banishment and the dry- 
ness of your mind, till I shall visit you 
again and set you free from all anxi- 
eties. For I will cause you to forget 
your painful toils and to enjoy thorough 
inward quietness. 

I will spread before you the pleasant 
fields of holy Scripture, so that with an 
enlarged heart you may begin to run the 
way of my commandments. 

And you shall say, " The sufferings of 
this present time are not worthy to be 
compared with the glory that shall be 
revealed in us. . . And we know that 
all things work together for good to 
them that love God, to them who are 
the called according to his purpose. " 1 

1 Rom. 8 : 18, 28. 



J 



280 Deserving of Chastisement 

CHAPTER LII 

That a Man Ought Not to Account Him- 

self as Worthy of Comfort, but Rather 

as Deserving of Chastisement 

LORD, I am not worthy of thy 
consolation, nor of any spiritual 
visitation ; and therefore thou deal- 
est justly with me when thou leavest me 
poor and desolate. For if I could shed a 
sea of tears I still should not be worthy 
of thy consolation. 

I am not worthy, then, of anything 
except to be scourged and punished, for I 
have often and grievously offended thee, 
and have greatly sinned in many things. 
And because of this, when all things are 
duly considered, I am not worthy even 
of the least comfort. 

But thou, O gracious and merciful 
God, who wiliest not that thy work 
should perish in order to show the riches 
of thy goodness upon the vessels of 
mercy, dost vouchsafe to comfort thy 
servant even beyond all his desert and 



Deserving of Chastisement 281 

above the manner of men. For thy 
consolations are not like the speeches 
of men. 

2. What have I done, O Lord, that 
thou shouldest bestow any heavenly 
comfort upon me ? I remember that 1 
have not done any good, but that I have 
always been prone to sin and slow to 
amendment. 

This is true and I cannot deny it. If 
I should say different thou wouldst stand 
against me 1 and there would be none to 
defend me. 

I confess in very truth that I deserve 
all scorn and contempt, nor is it fit that 
I should be remembered amongst thy de- 
vout servants. And although I may be 
unwilling to hear this, yet for the sake 
of truth, I will lay open my sins against 
myself that I may the more readily be 
counted worthy to obtain thy mercy. 

3. What shall I say since I am guilty 
and full of all confusion ? 

My mouth can utter nothing except 
this only, "I have sinned, O Lord. I 

1 Job 9 : 2, 3. 



282 Deserving of Chastisement 

have sinned j 1 have mercy on me ; par- 
don me ! " Spare me a little that I may 
bewail my griefs before I go into the land 
of darkness, a land covered with the 
shadow of death. 2 

What dost thou so much require of a 
guilty and miserable sinner, except that 
he be contrite and that he humble him- 
self for his offenses ? 

From true contrition and humbling of 
the heart arises hope of forgiveness ; the 
troubled conscience is reconciled ; the 
favor of God, which was lost, is recov- 
ered ; we are preserved from the wrath 
to come, and God and the penitent soul 
meet together with a holy kiss. 

4. Humble sorrow for sins is an ac- 
ceptable sacrifice unto thee, O Lord, 5 
and is more fragrant in thy presence than 
the perfume of frankincense. This is 
also the pleasant ointment, 4 which thou 
wouldest have poured upon thy sacred 
feet ; for a contrite and humble heart 
thou hast never despised. 5 Here is the 

1 Ps. 51. 2 Job 10 : ax. 3 Ps. 51 : 17. 

4 Luke 7 : 38. 6 Ps. 51 : 17. 



The Grace of God 283 

place of refuge from the angry face of 
the enemy ; here is cleansed and washed 
away whatever defilement and pollution 
has been contracted anywhere. 



CHAPTER LIII 

That the Grace of God is Not Given to 
Those Who Relish Earthly Things 

$ff'Wi)Y son > m Y g r ^ce is precious, and 
% 1 ' 1ft* does no * su ff er itself to be min- 
^ha^^ gled with outward things nor 
with earthly consolations. You ought 
therefore to cast away all hindrances to 
grace if you desire to receive the inpour- 
ing of my grace. 

Choose, therefore, a secret place for 
yourself, love to live alone with your- 
self, desire the conversation of no one ; 
but rather pour out devout prayer unto 
God that you may keep your soul con- 
trite and your conscience pure. Con- 
sider the whole world as nothing and 
prefer attendance upon God before all 
outward things. For you will not be 



284 The Grace of God 

able to attend upon me and at the same 
time take delight in worldly things. 

You ought to remove yourself away 
from your acquaintance and friends, 1 and 
not to depend on any worldly comfort. 
It was a blessed apostle, Peter, who be- 
sought that the faithful of Christ would 
keep themselves as strangers and pil- 
grims 2 in this world. 

2. Oh, how great a confidence he shall 
have at the hour of death, who is not 
detained in the world by affection for 
any earthly thing. 

But the unspiritual mind does not as yet 
comprehend the having of a heart so re- 
tired from all ; nor does the worldly man 
know the liberty of him who is spiritual. 

And yet, if he desire to be truly 
spiritual, he ought to renounce those 
who are far off, as well as those who are 
near unto him, and to be in fear of him- 
self more than any other one. If you 
perfectly overcome yourself, you shall 
bring all else under the yoke very easily. 
The perfect victory is to conquer our- 

1 Matt. 19 : 29. 2 1 Peter a ; 11. 



The Grace of God 285 

selves. For he who keeps himself sub- 
ject, so that his affections are obedient 
to reason, and his reason is obedient in 
all things to me ; he truly is conqueror 
of himself, and lord of the world. 

3. If you desire to mount unto this 
height, you must set out bravely, and 
lay the axe to the root, in order that you 
may pluck up and destroy both that hid- 
den excessive inclination to self, and all 
love of private and earthly good. Almost 
everything that has to be overcome thor- 
oughly proceeds from this sin ; and this 
evil being once conquered and subdued, 
there will soon come great peace and 
tranquillity. 

But because few strive perfectly to 
die unto themselves, or to go out alto- 
gether from themselves, they remain 
entangled in themselves, nor can they 
be lifted up in spirit above themselves. 
But for him who desires to walk freely 
with me, it is necessary for him to mortify 
all his corrupt and inordinate affections, 
and that he do not earnestly cling to any 
creature with particular love. 




286 Nature and Grace 

CHAPTER LIV 

Of the Different Stirrings of Nature 
and Grace 

5Y son, watch closely the stirrings 
of nature and grace, for they 
=^ps^ move in so contrary yet subtle 
manner, that it is hard for one who is 
not spiritually and inwardly enlightened 
to distinguish between them. 

All men indeed desire that which is 
good, and they pretend to some good in 
their words and deeds, and therefore 
under the appearance of good many are 
deceived. 

Nature is crafty and misleads many, 
ensnaring and deceiving them, and 
always proposes herself for her end and 
object. 

But grace walks in simplicity, abstains 
from all appearance of evil, does not 
shelter herself under deceits, and does 
all things purely for God's sake, in 
whom she also finally rests. 

2. Nature is unwilling and loath to die, 



Nature and Grace 287 

or to be kept down, or to be overcome, 
or to be in subjection, or readily to be 
subdued. 

But grace studies self-mortification, 
resists sensuality, seeks to be in subjec- 
tion, is desirous to be kept under, and 
does not wish to use her own liberty. 
She loves to be kept under discipline, 
and does not desire to rule over any, but 
always to live and remain and be under 
God, and is ready for God's sake humbly 
to bow down unto all. 

Nature strives for her own advantage, 
and considers what profit she may reap 
through another. 

Grace does not consider what is profit- 
able and pleasing unto herself, but rather 
what may be for the good of many. 

Nature willingly receives honor and 
reverence. 

Grace faithfully gives all honor and 
glory unto God. 

3. Nature fears shame and contempt. 

Grace rejoices to suffer reproach for 
the name of Jesus. 

Nature loves leisure and bodily ease. 



288 Nature and Grace 

Grace cannot be idle, but cheerfully 
welcomes labor. 

Nature seeks to have things that are 
curious and beautiful, and hates those 
that are cheap and coarse. 

Grace delights in that which is plain 
and humble, does not despise rough 
things, and does not refuse to be clothed 
in that which is old and worn. 

Nature respects worldly things, rejoices 
at earthly gain, sorrows for loss, and is 
irritated by every little injurious word. 

Grace looks to things eternal, does not 
cling to worldly things, is not disturbed 
by losses, nor soured by hard words ; 
because she has placed her treasure 
and joy in heaven, where nothing of it 
perishes. 

4. Nature is covetous, receives more 
willingly than it gives, and loves to have 
things private and her own. 

Grace is kind of heart, and ready to 
share with others, shuns private interest, 
is content with a little, and esteems it 
more blessed to give than to receive. 1 

1 Acts 20 : 35. 



Nature and Grace 289 

Nature inclines a man to his own flesh, 
to vanities, and to wandering hither and 
thither. 

Grace draws him unto God, and to 
every virtue, renounces the creature, 
avoids the world, hates the desires of 
the flesh, restrains wanderings abroad, 
and blushes to be seen in public. 

Nature is willing to have some out- 
ward consolation, by which she may 
receive delight of the senses. 

Grace seeks consolation in God alone, 
and to have delight in the highest good 
above all visible things. 

5. Nature turns everything to her own 
gain and profit, she cannot bear to do any- 
thing without reward, but for every kind- 
ness she does she hopes to obtain either 
what is equal, or what is better, or at 
least praise or favor, and is very anxious 
to have her works and gifts much valued. 

Grace seeks no temporal thing, nor 
desires any other reward than God alone, 
and asks no more of temporal neces- 
saries, than will help her to obtain things 
eternal. 
T 



2Q0 Nature and Grace 

6. Nature rejoices to have many friends 
and kinsfolk, she glories in noble place 
and noble birth, she smiles on the pow- 
erful, fawns upon the rich, and applauds 
those who are like herself. 

Grace loves even her enemies, and is 
not puffed up with a multitude of friends, 
and does not greatly esteem high birth, 
unless it be joined with more exalted 
virtue. 

Grace favors the poor rather than the 
rich, sympathizes more with the inno- 
cent than with the powerful, rejoices 
with the true man, and not with the 
deceitful. 

She is always exhorting good men to 
strive for the best gifts; and through all 
virtue to become like to the Son of God. 

Nature complains quickly of want and 
of trouble. Grace endures need with 
firmness and constancy. 

7. Nature refers all things to herself, 
and strives and argues for herself. Grace 
brings all back to God, from whom they 
originally come; she ascribes no good to 
herself, nor does she presume arrogantly; 



Nature and Grace 291 

she does not contend, nor prefer her own 
opinion before others ; but in every 
matter of sense and understanding she 
submits herself unto the eternal wisdom 
and divine judgment. 

Nature is eager to know secrets and 
to hear news ; she loves to show herself 
abroad and to prove many things by her 
own senses; she desires to be acknowl- 
edged, and to do things for which she 
may be praised and admired. 

Grace does not care to hear news, nor 
to understand curious matters (because 
all this has its rise in the old corruption 
of man), knowing that upon earth there 
is nothing new, nothing lasting. 

Grace therefore teaches us to restrain 
the senses, to shun vain complacency 
and show, humbly to hide those things 
that are worthy of admiration and praise, 
and from everything and in every knowl- 
edge to seek profitable fruit, and the 
praise and honor of God. 

She will not have herself nor that 
which relates to her publicly praised, but 
desires that God should be blessed in his 



2Q2 Corruption and Efficacy 

gifts, because for mere love he bestows 
all things. 

8. This grace is a supernatural light, 
and a certain special gift of God, the 
true mark of the elect, and the pledge 
of everlasting salvation. It raises up a 
man from earthly things to love the 
things of heaven, and from being worldly 
makes him a spiritual man. 

The more therefore that nature is de- 
pressed and subdued, the more is grace 
infused, and the inward man by new 
visitations is created anew every day 
according to the image of God. 
• 

CHAPTER LV 

Of the Corruption of Nature , and the 
Efficacy of Divine Grace 

Jp| LORD my God, who hast created 
™ me after thine own image and like- 
\^v ness, 1 grant me this grace, which 
thou hast showed to be so great and so 
necessary for my salvation ; so that I may 

1 Gen. i : 26. 



Corruption and Efficacy 293 

overcome my most evil nature, which 
draws me to sin and to perdition. 

For I feel in my flesh the law of sin 
opposing the law of my mind, 1 and lead- 
ing me captive to the obeying of sen- 
suality in many things; neither can I re- 
sist the passions thereof unless thy most 
holy grace is infused into my heart and 
assists me. 

2. There is need of thy grace, O Lord, 
and of large supplies thereof, in order 
that nature which is ever prone to evil 
from her youth may be overcome. 2 

For through Adam, the first man, na- 
ture being fallen and corrupted by sin, 
the penalty of this stain has descended 
upon all mankind, so that " nature '■ it- 
self which was created good and upright 
by thee, is now taken for the sin and in- 
firmity of corrupted nature ; because the 
inclination thereof left unto itself draws 
to evil and to lower things. 

For the small power which remains is, 
as it were, a spark lying hid in the ashes. 
This is natural reason itself, surrounded 

1 Rom. 7 : 23. 2 Gen. 8 : 21. 



294 Corruption and Efficacy 

with great darkness, yet still retaining 
power to discern the difference between 
true and false, good and evil ; although it 
be unable to do all that it approves, and 
no longer enjoys the full light of the truth, 
nor soundness in its own affections. 

3. Hence it is, O my God, that I de- 
light in thy law after the inward man, 1 
knowing thy commandment to be good, 
just, and holy, reproving also all evil and 
sin, as things to be avoided. 

But with the flesh I serve the law of 
sin, because I obey my senses rather 
than my reason. Hence it is, that to 
will what is good is present with me, but 
I find not how to perform it. 

Hence it is that I often intend many 
good things, but because grace is want- 
ing to help my weakness, 1 start back 
and faint upon a light resistance. 

Hence it comes to pass that I know the 
way of perfection, and see clearly what 1 
ought to do ; but I am so pressed down by 
the weight of my own corruption, that I 
do not rise to that which is more perfect. 

1 Rom. 7 : 22. 



Corruption and Efficacy 295 

4. O Lord, how entirely needful for me 
is thy grace, that I may begin any good 
work, go on with it, and accomplish it. 

For I can do nothing without that 
grace, 1 but when thy grace strengthens 
me, I can do all things in thee. 

Oh, heavenly grace indeed ! without 
which our most worthy actions are noth- 
ing, and no gifts of nature are to be es- 
teemed. Neither arts nor riches, beauty 
nor strength, wit nor eloquence, are of 
any value before thee, without thy 
grace, O Lord. 

For gifts of nature are common to 
good and bad, but the peculiar gift of the 
elect is grace or love ; and those who 
bear this honorable mark, are reckoned 
worthy of everlasting life. 

So great is this grace that neither the 
gift of prophecy, nor the working of 
miracles, nor any gain whatever, is of 
any value without it. No, not even 
faith, nor hope, nor any other virtues, 
are acceptable unto thee without charity 
and grace. 2 

1 John 15 : 5. 2 1 Cor. 13 : 13. 



296 Corruption and Efficacy 

5. O most blessed Grace, that makes 
the poor in spirit rich in virtues, and 
renders him who is rich in many goods 
humble in heart, come thou down unto 
me, come and refresh me early with thy 
comfort, lest my soul faint for weariness 
and dryness of mind. 

I beseech thee, O Lord, that I may 
find grace in thy sight; for thy grace is 
sufficient for me, even though I do not 
obtain other things that nature desires. 

Although I am tempted and vexed with 
many tribulations, yet I will fear no evil, 1 
so long as thy grace is with me. This 
alone and by itself is my strength, this 
alone gives advice and help. This is 
stronger than all enemies, and wiser than 
all the wise. 

6. Thy grace is the mistress of truth, 
the teacher of discipline, the light ot the 
heart, the comforter in affliction, the 
driver away of sorrow, the expeller of 
fear, the nurse of devotion, the mother 
of tears. Without this, what am I but 
a withered branch, and an unprofitable 

1 Ps. 23 : 4. 



Ourselves and Christ 297 

stock only fit to be cast away. Let thy 
grace therefore, O Lord, always restrain 
and follow me, and make me continually 
to be given to good works, through thy 
son Jesus Christ. Amen. 



CHAPTER LVI 

That We Ought to Deny Ourselves, and 
Imitate Christ by the Cross 

^KfMt^ son > ^ e more y° u can §° out 

WfvWt °^ y° urse 'f> the more you will 
^§§1^ be able to enter into me. As to 
desire no outward thing produces inward 
peace, so the forsaking inwardly of our- 
selves, joins us unto God. 

I will have you learn perfect resigna- 
tion of yourself to my will, without 
contradiction or complaint. Follow thou 
me : " I am the Way, the Truth, and 
the Life." l There is no going without the 
way; there is no knowing without the 
truth ; there is no living without the life. 
I am the way which you ought to follow ; 

1 John 14 : 6. 



2g8 Ourselves and Christ 

the truth which you ought to trust ; the 
life which you ought to hope for. 

I am the way inviolable, the truth in- 
fallible, the life that cannot end. 

1 am the straightest way, the highest 
truth, the true life, the blessed life, the 
life uncreated. 

If you remain in my way, you shall 
know the truth, and the truth shall make 
you free. 

2. If you will enter into life, keep the 
commandments. 1 

If you will know the truth, believe me. 

If you will be perfect, sell all. 2 

If you will be my disciple, deny your- 
self utterly. 3 

If you will possess a blessed life, 
despise this present life. 

If you will be exalted in heaven, hum- 
ble yourself in this world. 4 If you will 
reign with me, bear the cross with me. 5 
For only the servants of the cross can 
find the way of blessedness and of true 
light. 

1 Matt. 19 : 17. 2 Matt. 19 : 21. 3 Luke 9 : 23. 
4 John 12 : 25. 5 Luke 14 : 27. 



Ourselves and Christ 299 

3. O Lord Jesus, since thy life was 
narrow and despised by the world, en- 
able me to imitate thee, though the world 
despise. 

For the servant is not greater than his 
Lord, 1 nor the disciple above his Master. 

Let thy servant be exercised in thy 
life, for therein consists my salvation 
and my true holiness. 

Whatever I read or hear besides it 
does not give me full refreshment or 
delight. 

4. My son, since you know and have 
read all these things, happy shall you be 
if you do them. 

" He that hath my commandments and 
keepeth them, he it is that loveth me ; 
and I will love him, and will manifest 
myself unto him," 2 and will make him 
sit together with me in my Father's 
kingdom. 

O Lord Jesus, as thou hast said and 

1 Matt. 10 : 24 ; Luke 6 : 40. 
2 John 14 : 21. 



300 Ourselves and Christ 






promised, so let it come to pass, and 
grant that I may not be wholly unde- 
serving of this favor. 

I have received the cross from thy 
hand ; 1 have borne it and will bear it 
even unto death, even as thou hast laid 
it upon me. 

Truly the life of a Christian is a cross, 
but it is also a guide to paradise. 

I have begun, I may not go back, nor is 
it fitting to leave that which I have un- 
dertaken. 

5. Courage, then, brethren, let us go 
forward together ! Jesus will be with us. 

For the sake of Jesus we have under- 
taken this cross, for the sake of Jesus 
let us persevere in the cross. 

He who is our guide and forerunner 
will also be our helper. 

Behold, our King enters in before us, 
and he will fight for us. 

Let us follow him manfully and let no 
one fear any terrors ; let us be prepared 
to die valiantly in battle, and not to 
bring shame on our glory by flying from 
the cross. 



A Man Should not be Dejected 3or 

CHAPTER LVII 

That a Man Should not be Too Much 

Dejected, even WJien he Falleth 

Into Some Defects 

;^R : fp)Y son, patience and humility in 
>/r!^r a ^ vers ^y are more pleasing to 
^%$^ me than are much comfort and 
devotion in prosperity. 

Why are you so grieved over every 
little matter spoken against you ? 

Even if it had been much more you 
ought not to have been moved. 

But now let it pass ; it is not the first 
that has happened nor is it anything 
new, and if you live long it shall not be 
the last. 

You are courageous enough so long as 
nothing adverse befalls you. 

You can give good counsel also and can 
strengthen others with your words ; but 
when any tribulation suddenly comes to 
your door you fail in counsel and in 
strength. 

Remember, then, your great frailty, of 



302 A Man Should not be Dejected 

which you too often have experience in 
small matters. But when these and such 
like trials happen to you it is intended 
for your good. 

2. Put it out of your heart as well as 
you can, and if it touch you do not let it 
cast you down nor perplex you long. 

If you cannot bear it joyfully bear it 
at least patiently. 

Although you may be unwilling to hear 
it and feel indignation because of it, yet 
restrain yourself and suffer no ill-advised 
word to pass out of your mouth by which 
Christ's little ones may be offended. 

The storm which is now raised shall 
be quickly soothed, and inward grief 
shall be sweetened by the return of 
grace. 

I yet live, saith the Lord, and am ready 
to help you, 1 and to give you greater com- 
fort than before, if you but put your 
trust in me and devoutly call upon me. 

3. Be more patient of soul and gird 
yourself to greater endurance. 

All is not lost, although you very 

1 Isa. 49 : 18. 



A Man Should not be Dejected 303 

often feel yourself afflicted or grievously 
tempted. You are a man, and not God ; 
you are flesh, not an angel. 

How can you expect to continue al- 
ways in the same state of virtue, when 
an angel in heaven, and also the first 
man in paradise have fallen ? l 

I am he who lifts up the mourners in 
safety and soundness, and I advance 
those that know their own weakness to 
mine own divine glory. 

O Lord, blessed be thy word, more 
sweet unto my mouth than honey and 
the honeycomb. 2 What should I do in 
these great tribulations and straits unless 
thou didst comfort me with thy holy 
words ? What matter is it how much 
or what I suffer, if I may at last attain 
to the haven of salvation ? 

Grant me a good end, grant me a 
happy passage out of this world. 

Be mindful of me, O my God, and di- 
rect me in the right way to thy king- 
dom. Amen. 

1 Gen. 3. 2 Ps. 119 : 103. 



304 God's Secret Judgments 

CHAPTER LVIII 

That High Matters and God's Secret 
Judgments are Not to be Nar- 
rowly Inquired Into 

'T\7l^ son ' ^ eware tliat y° u i '° not 

/ J V Y dispute of high matters, nor of 
^~~ — - the secret judgments of God, 
why this man is so left and that man 
taken into such great favor ; why also 
one man is so much afflicted and another 
so greatly advanced. These things are 
beyond the reach of man, and it is not in 
the power of any reason or argument to 
search out the judgments of God. 

When, therefore, the enemy suggest 
these things to you, or some curious peo- 
ple raise the question, let your answer be 
that of the prophet, " Thou art just, O 
Lord, and thy judgment is right. " l 

And again, "The judgments of the 
Lord are true and righteous altogether.' p 2 

My judgments are to be feared, not 
to be discussed ; for they are such as 

1 Ps. 119 : 137. 2 Ps. 19 j 9. 






i 



God's Secret Judgments 305 

cannot be comprehended by the under- 
standing of man. 

2. In like manner I advise you not to 
inquire, nor dispute about the merits of 
holy men as to which of them is holier 
than the other, or which shall be the 
greater in the kingdom of heaven. 

These things often breed strife and 
unprofitable contentions, 1 and they also 
nourish pride and vainglory, from which 
spring envy and quarrels, while one will 
proudly prefer this and the other another. 

It answers no good end to desire to 
know and search out such things, and it 
is painful to righteous souls ; for I am not 
the God of dissension, but of peace, 
which peace consists in true humility 
rather than in self-exaltation. 

3. Some are carried by zeal of affection 
toward these or those ; but this is rather 
human than divine love. I am he who 
made all the saints ; I gave them grace ; 
I obtained for them glory. 

I know what every one has deserved ; 
I presented them with the blessings of 

1 2 Tim. 2 : 14. 



306 God's Secret Judgments 

my goodness. I foreknew my beloved 
ones before the beginning of the world. 

I chose them out of the world ; they 
did not choose me first. 1 

I called them by grace, I drew them 
by mercy, I led them safely through 
many temptations. 

I have poured into them glorious con- 
solations, I give them perseverance, I 
crown their patience. 

4. I acknowledge both the first and 
the last ; I embrace all with a love that 
is inestimable. 

I am to be praised in all my saints ; I 
am to be blessed above all things, and to 
be honored in every one whom I have 
thus gloriously exalted and predestinated, 
without any merits of their own. 

He, therefore, that despises one of the 
least of mine 2 honors not the greatest, 
for I made both the small and the great. 3 

And he that withholds praise of any 
of my saints, withholds praise from me 
also and of all the rest in the kingdom 
of heaven. 

1 John 15 : 16. 2 James 2 : 1-5. 3 Wisd. 6 : 7. 



God's Secret Judgments 307 

These are all one through the bond of 
love ; their thought is the same, their 
will is the same, and they all love one 
another. 

5. But still (and this is a far higher 
thing), they love me more than them- 
selves and more than any merits of their 
own. For being raised above self and 
self-love they are wholly carried out of 
themselves to love me, in whom also 
they rest with full fruition. Nothing can 
turn them back, nothing can press them 
down, for being full of the eternal truth 
they burn with the fire of unquenchable 
charity. 

Let, therefore, carnal and unnatural 
men who can love nothing but their own 
selfish joys refrain from disputing about 
the state of God's saints. Such men 
add and take away according to their 
own fancies and not as it pleases the 
eternal truth. 

6. Many are ignorant, especially those 
who are only a little enlightened, and 
they can seldom love any with a perfect 
spiritual love. 



308 God's Secret Judgments 

They are still much drawn by natural 
affection and human friendship to this 
man or to that. And they frame their 
imaginations of heavenly things accord- 
ing to the experience they have of them- 
selves and their earthly affections. But 
there is an incomparable distance be- 
tween the things which the imperfect im- 
agine and the things which those that are 
enlightened are enabled to see through 
revelation from above. 

7. Beware, therefore, my son, that you 
do not handle with vain curiosity those 
things that exceed your knowledge, 1 but 
rather let it be your great business and 
endeavor to attain if it be only the mean- 
est place in the kingdom of God. 

If any one should know who exceeds 
another in sanctity, or who is ranked 
the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, 
what would such knowledge profit him 
unless he should humble himself the 
more in my sight and then should rise 
up to give the greater praise to my name 
in proportion to this his knowledge? 

1 Ecclus. 3 : 21. 



God's Secret Judgments 309 

Far more acceptable to God is he who 
thinks of the greatness of his own sin 
and the smallness of his virtues, and 
how far he is from the perfection of 
saints, than he who disputes of their 
greatness or littleness. 

8. They are well — yea, right well con- 
tented if men would only content them- 
selves and refrain from vain discourses. 

They do not glory in their own merits 
since they give themselves no credit for 
goodness, but give all credit to me, who 
of mine infinite love have given them all 
things. They are filled with so great a 
love of God and with such an overflowing 
joy that there is no glory nor happiness 
that is or that can be wanting unto them. 

The higher all the saints are in glory, 
the more humble are they in themselves 
and the nearer and dearer are they unto 
me. It is therefore written, " That they 
did cast their crowns before God, and 
fell down on their faces before the Lamb, 
and adored him that liveth forever and 
forever. M1 

1 Rev. 4 : 10. 



310 God? s Secret Judgments 

9. Many who do not know whether 
they shall ever be numbered among the 
least, inquire who is the greatest in the 
kingdom of God. It is a great thing to 
be even the least in heaven, where all 
are great, for they all shall be called, 
and shall be, the sons of God. "The 
least shall become a thousand/' 1 and 
"the sinner of an hundred years shall 
die." 2 When the disciples asked who 
should be the greatest in the kingdom of 
heaven, they received this answer: 

" Except ye be converted, and become 
as little children, ye shall not enter into 
the kingdom of heaven ; whosoever 
therefore shall humble himself as this 
little child, the same is greatest in the 
kingdom of heaven." 8 

10. Woe be unto them who disdain to 
humble themselves willingly with little 
children ; because the low gate of the 
kingdom of heaven will not give them 
entrance. 4 

Woe also to the rich, who have their 
consolation in this world ; for while the 

1 Isa. 60 : 22. 2 Isa. 60 : 20. 3 Matt. 18 : 3, 4. 4 Matt. 7 : 14. 



Our Hope and Trust 311 

poor enter into the kingdom of God, they 
shall stand lamenting without. 

Rejoice ye who are humble, 1 and be 
ye poor filled with joy, for if ye walk 
according to the truth, yours is the king- 
dom of God. 



CHAPTER LIX 

That All Our Hope and Trust is to be 
Fixed in God Alone 

§ORD, what is my confidence which 
I have in this life ? Or what is the 
greatest confidence I can gain from 
anything under heaven ? Is it not thou, 
O Lord my God, whose mercies are 
without number ? 

Where has it ever been well with me 
without thee ? Or when could it be ill 
with me when thou wert present ? 

I should rather be poor for thy sake 
than to be rich without thee. 

I prefer to be a pilgrim on earth with 
thee than to possess heaven without 

1 Matt. 5 : 3. 



312 Our Hope and Trust 

thee. Where thou art ther ivert, 

and where thou art hot there is death 
and hell. Thou art all my and 

therefore I must needs sigh and call aft( 
earnestly pray unto thee. 

For I have none to trust fully , none 
that can quickly help me in my nea 
ties, except only thee, my ( iod. Thou 
art my hope and my confidence; thou 
art my comforter and most faithful in all 
things unto me. 

2. All men seek their own gain. Thou 

advancest my salvation and my profit 
only and tumest all things to my j^ood. 
Although thou exposed me to many 
temptations and ad s yet thou 

orderest it all to my advantage, for thou 
art accustomed to try thy beloved ones 
in a thousand ways. 

In which trial of me thou oughtest 
no less to be loved and praised than 
if thou didst fill me full of heavenly 
consolations. 

3. In thee, therefore, O Lord God, I 
place my whole hope and refuse ; on 
thee I rest in my tribulation and anguish, 



Our Hope and Trust 3 1 3 

for whatever I behold save in thee I find 
all to be weak and inconstant. 

For many friends cannot profit, nor 
strong helpers assist, nor wise counselors 
give a profitable answer, nor the books 
of the learned afford comfort, nor any 
precious substance deliver, nor any place, 
however retired and lovely, give shelter, 
unless thou thyself dost assist, help, 
strengthen, instruct, and guard us. 1 

4. For all things that seem to belong 
to the attainment of peace and happiness 
are nothing without thee and in truth 
bring no happiness at all. 

Thou, therefore, art the end of all that 
is good, the height of life, the depth of 
all that can be spoken, and to hope in 
thee above all things is the strongest 
comfort of thy servant. To thee, there- 
fore, do I lift up mine eyes; in thee, 
my God, the Father of mercies, do I put 
my trust. 

Bless and sanctify my soul with thy 
heavenly blessings that it may become 
thy holy habitation and the seat of thine 

1 Phil. 2 : ax. 



314 Our Hope and Trust 

eternal glory, and let nothing be found 
in this temple of thy dignity which shall 
offend the eyes of thy majesty. 

According to the greatness of thy good- 
ness and the multitude of thy mercies, 
look upon me and hear the prayer of thy 
poor servant, who is exiled far from thee 
in the land of the shadow of death. 

Protect and keep the soul of me, the 
meanest of thy servants, amidst the 
many dangers of this corruptible life, 
and by thy accompanying grace direct 
me along the way of peace to the land 
of everlasting light. Amen. 



The Fourth Book 

Concerning the Communion 



A Devout Exhortation to the 
Holy Communion 

" Come unto me all ye that labor and 
are heavy laden, and I will refresh you," ' 
saith the Lord. 

" The bread which I will give is my 
flesh, which I will give for the life of the 
world. " 2 

"Take ye and eat; this is my body 
which Is given for you : 3 do this in re- 
membrance of me." 4 

" He that eateth my flesh and drinketh 
my blood, dwelleth in me, and 1 in him." 

" The words which I have spoken unto 
you are spirit and life." 5 

1 Matt, ii : 28. 2 John 6 : 51. 3 Matt. 26 : 26. 

4 1 Cor. 11 : 24. 6 John 6 : 56, 63. 






CHAPTER I 

With how Great Reverence Christ Ought 
to be Received 

^HESE are thy words, O Christ, the 
\)i, everlasting truth, though they were 
not spoken all at one time, nor 
written in one place. 

Because therefore they are thine and 
are true, they are all to be received 
thankfully and faithfully by me. 

They are thine, and thou hast spoken 
them : they are mine also, because thou 
hast spoken them for my salvation. 

I receive them cheerfully from thy 
mouth, that they may be implanted the 
more deeply in my heart. 

They arouse me, those most gracious 
words, so full of sweetness and of love ; 
but my own offenses dishearten me, and 
an impure conscience drives me back 
from the receiving of so great mysteries. 

317 



318 Reverence 

The sweetness of thy words encour- 
ages me, but the multitude of my sins 
weighs me down. 

2. Thou commandest me to come 
confidently unto thee, if I would have 
part with thee ; and to receive the food 
of immortality, if I desire to obtain ever- 
lasting life and glory. 

11 Come unto me (sayest thou), all ye 
that labor and are heavy laden, and I 
will refresh you." ■ 

Oh, sweet and loving word in the ear 
of a sinner, that thou, my Lord God, 
shouldest invite the poor and needy to 
the partaking of thy most holy body and 
blood ! 

But who am I, Lord, that I should pre- 
sume to approach unto thee ? 

Behold the heaven of heavens cannot 
contain thee, and thou sayest, " Come 
ye all unto me." 

3. What means this so gracious a con- 
descension and this so loving an invita- 
tion ? How shall I, who know not any 
good in myself, whereon I may presume, 

1 Matt. 11 : 28. 



Reverence . 319 

dare to come to thee ? How shah I, who 
have so often offended thy most gracious 
countenance, bring thee into my house ? 

Angels and archangels stand in awe 
of thee ; holy and righteous men do fear 
thee : and sayest thou, " Come ye all 
unto me " ? 

Who would believe it to be true, un- 
less thou, O Lord, didst say this ? 

And who could attempt to draw near 
unless thou didst command it ? 

Behold Noah, that just man, labored a 
hundred years in the building of the ark, 1 
that he might be saved with a few ; how, 
then, can I in one hour's space prepare 
myself to receive with reverence the 
Maker of the world ? 

4. Moses, thy great servant, and thine 
especial friend, made an ark of incorrupti- 
ble woodland covered it over with the 
finest gold, wherein to lay up the tables 
of the law ; 2 and how shall I, a corrupted 
creature, dare to receive so unconcern- 
edly the Maker of the law and the Giver 
of life ? 

1 Gen. 6:3. 2 Exod. 25 : 10-16. 



320 Reverence 

Solomon, the wisest of the kings of Is- 
rael, spent seven years in building a m 
nificent temple to the praise of thy name. 1 

He also celebrated for eight days to- 
gether the feast of dedication thereof ; 
he offered a thousand peace offerings, 
and with the sound of trumpets and great 
joy he solemnly set the ark of the cov- 
enant in the place prepared for it. 2 

And I, the most miserable and poorest 
of men, how shall I, who can scarce 
spend a half-hour in true devotion, bring 
thee into my house ? Would that I 
could spend even once something like 
one half-hour in worthy and due manner ! 

5. O my God, how earnestly did they 
study and try to please thee. 

Alas, how little is it that I do ! how 
short a time do I spend when I am pre- 
paring myself to receive the commun- 
ion ! Seldom am I wholly collected ; 
very seldom indeed am I freed from all 
distraction. 

And yet surely in the life-giving pres- 
ence of thy Godhead no unbecoming 

1 1 Kings 6 : 31. 3 2 Kings 8. 



Reverence 321 



thought ought to intrude itself, nor should 
any creature occupy my heart ; for it is 
not an angel, but the Lord of angels, 
whom I am about to entertain. Why do 
I not prepare myself with greater anxiety 
to receive the holy things ? since those 
holy ancient patriarchs and prophets, yea 
kings and princes also, and the whole 
people, showed such an affectionateness 
of devotion to thy divine service. 

6. The most devout king David danced 
with all his might 1 before the ark of God, 
while calling to mind the benefits disposed 
in times past upon his forefathers. He 
made instruments of many kinds, he set 
forth psalms, and ordered them to be sung 
with joy ; he also often sang himself to 
the harp, being inspired with the grace of 
the Holy Ghost. He taught the people 
of Israel to praise God with their whole 
hearts, and with voices full of harmony 
to bless and praise him every day. 

If so great a devotion was used in those 
times, and such a celebrating of divine 
praise was kept up before the ark of the 

1 2 Sam. 6 : 14. 

V 



322 Reverence 

testament, what reverence and devotion 
ought to be preserved now by me and 
all Christian people, in receiving the 
most precious body and blood of Christ 
during the ministration of this sacrament. 

7. O God, the invisible Creator of the 
world, how wonderfully dost thou deal 
with us ; how sweetly and graciously 
dost thou dispose of all things with thine 
elect, to whom thou offerest thyself to 
be received in this sacrament ! For truly 
this exceeds all understanding. This 
specially draws the hearts of the devout 
and inflames their affections. 

For even thy true and faithful ones, 
who dispose their whole life to improve- 
ment, often gain much of the grace of 
devotion and love of virtue by this most 
precious sacrament. 

8. Oh, the admirable and hidden grace 
of this sacrament, which only the faith- 
ful ones of Christ do know, while the 
unbelieving and such as are slaves unto 
sin cannot have any experience therein. 

Spiritual grace is conferred in this sac- 
rament, and the strength which was lost 



Reverence 323 

is restored in the soul and the beauty 
which has been disfigured by sin again 
returns. 

9. Nevertheless our coldness and neg- 
ligence is much to be lamented and pitied, 
because we are not drawn with greater 
affection to receive Christ, in whom con- 
sists all the hope of those that are to be 
saved, and all their merit. For he him- 
self is our sanctification and redemption ; 
he himself is the comfort of those who 
are only travelers here, and he is the 
everlasting fruition of saints. 

Alas for the blindness and hardness of 
man's heart, which does not weigh more 
deeply so unspeakable a gift ; but rather 
through the daily use thereof comes to 
regard it as little or nothing ! 

10. For if this most holy sacrament 
were to be celebrated in only one place, 
and consecrated by only one priest in 
the world, with what great desires do 
you think men would be drawn to that 
place and toward such a priest of God, 
that they might be witnesses of the cel- 
ebration of these divine mysteries ? 



324 Goodness and Love of God 

But there are many now who are 
made priests, and Christ is offered in 
many places ; that the grace and love of 
God to man may appear so much the 
greater the more widely the sacred com- 
munion is spread over the world. 

Thanks be unto thee, O merciful 
Jesus, thou eternal Shepherd, because 
thou hast vouchsafed to refresh us who 
are poor and in a state of banishment 
with thy precious body and blood, and to 
invite us to receive these mysteries with 
the words even of thine own mouth, 
" Come unto me all ye that labor and 
are heavy laden, and I will refresh you. M 



CHAPTER II 

That the Great Goodness and Love of God is 
Exhibited to Man hi this Sacrament 

MN confidence, O Lord, of thy good- 
|| ness and great mercy, I draw near 
^ as one who is sick to the healer, as 
one who is hungry and thirsty to the 
fountain of life, needy to the King of 



Goodness and Love of God 325 

heaven, a servant unto my Lord, a 
creature to my Creator, a desolate soul 
to my merciful Comforter. 

But whence is this to me that thou 
vouchsafest to come unto me ? l What 
am I that thou shouldest grant thine own 
self unto me ? 

How dare a sinner appear before thee ? 
and how is it that thou dost vouchsafe to 
come unto a sinner ? 

Thou knowestthy servant, thou know- 
est that he has no good thing in him for 
which thou shouldest grant him this favor. 

I confess therefore my own unworthi- 
ness, I acknowledge thy goodness, I 
praise thy tender mercy, and give thee 
thanks for this thy unspeakable love. 

For thou didst not do this for any 
merits of mine, but for thine own sake ; 
in order that thy goodness may be better 
known unto me, thy love more abun- 
dantly poured down, and thy gracious 
humility more clearly set forth. 

Since, therefore, it is thy pleasure, 
and thou hast commanded that it should 

1 Luke 1 : 43. 



326 Goodness and Love of God 

be so, this which seems good to thee 
pleases me also, and would that mine 
iniquity might be no hindrance ! 

But what shall my thoughts dwell upon 
at this communion in thus approaching 
unto my Lord, whom I am not able duly 
to honor and whom I cannot but desire 
devoutly to receive ? 

2. What better and more profitable 
can I think on than to humble myself 
utterly before thee and to exalt thine 
infinite goodness over me ? 

I praise thee, my God, and will exalt 
thee forever. I do despise and cast my- 
self down before thee into the deep of 
mine own unworthiness. 

Behold, thou art the Holy of Holies 
while I am the scum of sinners ! 

Behold, thou inclinest thyself unto me 
and I am not worthy so much as to look 
up unto thee. Behold, thou comest unto 
me ; it is thy will to be with me ; thou 
invitest me to thy banquet. 

Thou art willing to give me heavenly 
food and bread of angels to eat, 1 and this 

1 Ps. 78 : 25 ; John 6 : 33. 



Goodness and Love of God 327 

indeed is no other than thyself the living 
bread, which came down from heaven 
and gives life unto the world. 

3. Behold, from whence does this love 
proceed ! What gracious condescension 
shineth forth herein ! How great thanks 
and praises are due unto thee for these 
benefits ! 

Oh, how great and profitable is thy 
counsel when thou didst order it ; how 
sweet and pleasant the banquet when 
thou gavest thyself to be our food ! 

Oh, how admirable is this thy doing, 
O Lord, how mighty is thy power, how 
unspeakable thy truth ! 

For thou didst speak the word and all 
things were made, 1 and this which thou 
thyself commandest was done. 

Do thou preserve my heart and body 
undefiled, so that with a cheerful and 
pure conscience I may be able often to 
receive to my everlasting health those 
mysteries which thou didst specially or- 
dain and institute for thine own honor and 
for a never-ceasing memorial of thyself. 

1 Gen. 1 ; Ps. 148 : 5. 



328 To Communicate Often 

4. Rejoice, O my soul, and give thanks 
unto God for so precious a consolation 
left unto thee in this vale of tears. 

For as often as thou callest this mys- 
tery to mind and receivest the body of 
Christ, so often dost thou go over the 
work of thy redemption and art made par- 
taker of all the merits of Christ. 

For the love of Christ is never les- 
sened, and the greatness of his atone- 
ment is never exhausted. 

Therefore thou oughtest to dispose 
thyself by fresh renewing of thy mind, 
and to weigh with consideration the great 
mystery of salvation. 

CHAPTER III 

That it is Profitable to Communicate Often 

PEHOLD, O Lord, I come unto thee, 
that I may be comforted in thy gift, 
and be delighted in thy holy ban- 
quet, which thou, O God, hast prepared 
of thy goodness for the poor. 1 

1 Ps. 68 : 10. 



To Communicate Often 329 

Behold, all that I can or ought to de- 
sire is in thee ; and thou art my salva- 
tion and my redemption, my hope and 
my strength, my honor and glory. 

Make joyful therefore this day the soul 
of thy servant; 1 for unto thee, O Lord 
Jesus, have I lifted up my soul. 

I desire to receive thee now with 
devotional reverence. I desire to bring 
thee into my house, so that with Zac- 
chaeus I may be blessed by thee, and 
be numbered among the children of 
Abraham. 

2. Give thyself to me, and it sufficeth ; 
for there is no comfort besides thee. 

I cannot be without thee ; I cannot 
endure to live without thy visitation. 

And therefore I must needs often draw 
near unto thee, and receive thee for the 
medicine of my soul ; lest haply, if I be 
deprived of this heavenly food, I faint 
by the way. 

For so, most merciful Jesus, once when 
thou wert preaching to the people and 
curing many diseases, thou didst say, 

1 Ps. 86 : 4 . 



33° To Communicate Often 

"J will not send them home fasting, lest 
they faint in the way." ■ 

It is needful for me, who so often fall 
into error and sin, and so quickly grow 
faint, by frequent prayer and confession, 
and the receiving of thy holy body and 
blood, to renew, cleanse, and inflame my- 
self, lest haply, through long abstaining, 
I fall away from my holy purposes. 

3. For the imaginations of man are 
prone unto evil from his youth, 2 and un- 
less some divine remedy help him, he 
quickly falls away to worse things. 

This holy communion therefore draws 
men back from evil, and strengthens 
them in good. For if I am now so often 
negligent and cold when I communicate, 
what would become of me if I did not 
receive this remedy, and did not seek 
after so great a help ? Although every 
day 1 am not fit or well prepared, I will 
try notwithstanding at proper times to 
receive the divine mysteries, and to be 
partaker of so great a grace. 

For it is the one chief consolation of 

1 Matt. 15 : 32 ; Mark 8:2. 2 Gen. 8 : 21. 



To Communicate Often 331 

faithful souls, so long as they are absent 
from thee in this mortal body, that being 
mindful of their God, they often receive 
their beloved with devout mind. 

4. Oh, the wonderful condescension 
of thy tender mercy toward us, that 
thou, O Lord God, the Creator and 
giver of life to all spirits, dost vouchsafe 
to come unto a poor soul, and to appease 
the hunger thereof ! 

Oh, happy minds and blessed souls, 
who have the privilege of receiving thee, 
their Lord God, with devout affection, 
and in thus receiving thee are permitted • 
to be filled with spiritual joy ! 

Oh, how great a Lord do they en- 
tertain ! how beloved a guest do they 
harbor ! how delightful a companion do 
they receive ! how lovely and noble a 
spouse do they embrace ! even him who 
is to be loved above all things that are 
loved, and above all things that can be 
desired. 

O thou the most sweet, most beloved, 
let heaven and earth, and all that adorns 
them, be silent in thy presence. For 



33 2 Many Benefits Bestowed 

whatever praise and beauty they have 
it is received from thy bounteous con- 
descension, and shall never equal the 
grace and beauty of thy name, whose 
wisdom is infinite. 1 



CHAPTER IV 

That Many Benefits are Bestowed upon 
Those that Communicate Devoutly 

LORD, my God, do thou present 
thy servant with the blessings of 
thy goodness, 2 so that I may worth- 
ily and devoutly approach to thy glorious 
sacrament. 

Stir up my heart unto thee, and deliver 
me from all dullness. Visit me with thy 
salvation, 3 so that I may taste in spirit 
thy sweetness, which lies plentifully hie 
in this sacrament as in a fountain. 

Enlighten mine eyes also so that the) 
may behold so great a mystery, and 
strengthen me with undoubting faith to 
believe it. 

1 Ps. 147 : 5. 2 Ps. 21 : 3. 3 Ps. in : 4. 



Many Benefits Bestowed 333 

For it is thy work, and no human 
power ; it is thy sacred institution, not 
man's invention. 

For of itself no one is able to com- 
prehend and understand these things, 
which surpass the understanding even 
of angels. 

What portion, then, of so high and sa- 
cred a mystery shall I, unworthy sinner, 
dust and ashes, be able to search out and 
comprehend ? 

2. O Lord, I draw near unto thee 
with hope and reverence, in the sim- 
plicity of my heart, with a good and 
firm faith, and at thy commandment. 
Thy will is, that I should receive thee, 
and that I should unite myself in charity 
unto thee. 

For this reason I implore thy mercy, 
and do crave thy special grace, to the 
end that I may wholly be dissolved and . 
overflow with love unto thee, and never 
suffer any external consolation hereafter 
to enter in. 

For this most high and precious sacra- 
ment is a health both of the soul and 



334 Many Benefits Bestowed 

body, a medicine for all spiritual languor; 
hereby my vices are cured, my passions 
bridled, my temptations overcome or at 
Jeast weakened ; greater grace is infused, 
virtue begun is increased, faith is con- 
firmed, hope strengthened, and love in- 
flamed and enlarged. 

3. For thou hast bestowed, and still 
often dost bestow many benefits upon 
thy beloved ones in this sacrament, who 
communicate devoutly, O my God, the 
protector of my soul, the strengthener of 
human weakness, and the giver of all 
inward comfort. 

Thou impartest much comfort unto 
them against many tribulations ; and 
liftest them up from the depth of their 
own dejected state, to hope in thy pro- 
tection ; and dost inwardly refresh and 
enlighten them with new grace, so that 
they who at first and before communion 
felt themselves full of anxiety and heart- 
lessness, afterward, being refreshed with 
heavenly meat and drink, do find a 
change for the better in themselves. 

And in such way dost thou deal with 






Many Benefits Bestowed 335 

thine elect, that they may truly acknowl- 
edge, and clearly prove, how great is 
their own infirmity, and what goodness 
and grace they obtain from thee. For 
they of themselves are cold, dull, and 
undevout ; but they are made fervent, 
cheerful, and full of devotion by thee. 
For who is there that, humbly approach- 
ing the fountain of sweetness, does not 
carry away at least some little sweet- 
ness ? Or who standing by a great fire, 
does not receive some small heat there- 
from ? And thou art a fountain always 
full and overflowing, a fire ever burning 
and never dying out. 1 

4. Wherefore, if I am not permitted to 
draw out of the full fountain itself, nor 
to drink my fill, still I will set my lips to 
the mouth of this heavenly stream, that 
I may thereby receive at least some 
small drop to refresh my thirst and shall 
not be wholly dried up. 

And though as yet I cannot be alto- 
gether heavenly, nor so full of love as 
the cherubim and seraphim, yet I will 

1 Isa, 12 : 3 ; Lev. 6 : 13. 



336 Many Benefits Bestowed 

endeavor to apply myself earnestly to 
devotion, and to prepare my heart to 
obtain, if it be only some small spark of 
divine fire, through the humble receiv- 
ing of this life-giving sacrament. 

And whatever is wanting in me, O 
merciful Jesus, most holy Saviour, do 
thou bountifully and graciously supply 
for me, thou who hast vouchsafed to 
call us all unto thee, saying, " Come 
unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy 
laden, and I will refresh you." 1 

5. I indeed labor in the sweat of my 
brow, 2 I am vexed with grief of heart, I 
am burdened with sin, I am troubled 
with temptations, I am entangled and 
oppressed with many evil passions ; and 
there is none to help me, none to deliver 
and save me, but thou, O Lord God my 
Saviour, to whom I commit myself and 
all that is mine, that thou mayest keep 
watch over me and them, and bring us 
safe to life everlasting. 

Grant, O Lord God my Saviour, that 
by frequent attending of the celebra- 

1 Matt. 11 : 28. 2 Gen. 3 : 19. 



Concerning Spiritual Exercise 337 

tion of thy mysteries, the zeal of my 
devotion may grow and increase. 



CHAPTER V 

An Enquiry Concerning Spiritual Exercise 
Before Communion 

M TREMBLE exceedingly, O Lord, when 
, |m I weigh thy worthiness, and mine own 
^ vileness, and I am confounded within 
myself. 

For if I do not come unto thee, I fly 
from life, and if I intrude myself un- 
worthily, I incur thy displeasure. What 
therefore shall I do, O my God, my helper 
and counselor in all necessity ? 

2. Teach me the right way, appoint 
unto me some brief exercise, suitable to 
this holy communion. 

For it is good for me to know how I 
should reverently and religiously prepare 
my heart for thee, for the profitable re- 
ceiving of this sacrament of thine, and 
for the celebrating of so great and divine 
a sacrifice. 
W 



338 Searching Our Own Conscience 

CHAPTER VI 

Of Thoroughly Searching Our Own 

Conscience and of Holy Pur- 

poses of Amendment 

f[OD'S minister ought above all things 
i to come to celebrate and to receive 
I this sacrament with very great hu- 
mility of heart, with reverential suppli- 
cation, and with a full faith and a dutiful 
regard for God's honor. 

Diligently examine your conscience, 
and to the utmost of your power purify 
and cleanse it with true contrition and 
humble confession ; so that there may 
be nothing in you that may be burden- 
some unto you, or that may breed re- 
morse of conscience in you, and hinder 
your free access to the throne of grace. 
Be grieved at the recollection of all your 
sins in general, and bewail and lament 
in particular your daily transgressions. 
And if you have time, confess unto God 
in the secret of your heart all the misera- 
ble evils of your disordered passions. 



Searching Our Own Conscience 339 

2. Lament and grieve, that you are 
still so. carnal and worldly, so unmodi- 
fied in your passions, so full of earthly 
lusts : 

So unwatchful over your outward 
senses, so often entangled with many 
vain fancies : 

So much inclined to outward things, 
so neglectful in things inward and spirit- 
ual : 

So prone to laughter and unbridled 
mirth, so indisposed to tears and regrets : 

So prompt to ease and pleasures of 
the flesh, so dull to strictness of life and 
zeal : 

So curious to hear news and to see 
beautiful sights, so slow to embrace what 
is humble and low : 

So covetous of abundance, so niggardly 
in giving, so firm in keeping : 

So inconsiderate in speech, so reluc- 
tant to keep silent : 

So uncomposed in manners, so fretful 
in action : 

So eager about food, so deaf to the 
word of God : 



340 Searching Our Own Conscience 

In such a hurry to rest, so slow to 
labor: 

So wakeful in vain conversation, so 
drowsy at sacred services : 

So hasty to arrive at the end of such 
services, so inclined to be wandering 
and inattentive : 

So negligent in prayers, so lukewarm 
in celebrating the holy eucharist, so dry 
and heartless in receiving it: 

So quickly distracted, so seldom wholly 
gathered into thyself: 

So suddenly moved to anger, so quick 
to take displeasure against another: 

So ready to judge, so severe to re- 
prove : 

So joyful in prosperity, so weak in 
adversity : 

So often making good resolutions, and 
yet bringing them in the end to so poor 
effect. 

3. These and other of your defects 
being confessed and bewailed with sor- 
row and great displeasure at your own 
weakness, do you make a firm resolu- 
tion always to be improving your life, 



Searching Our Own Conscience 341 

and to be seeking always a further prog- 
ress and holiness. 

Then with full resignation and with 
your whole will, do you, to the honor of 
my name, offer up yourself as a perpet- 
ual whole burnt offering on the altar of 
your heart, faithfully committing your 
body and soul unto me. 

4. For man has no offering more 
worthy, nor any greater means for the 
destroying of sin, than to offer himself 
purely and wholly unto God, in the holy 
communion of the body and blood of 
Christ. 

And when you live down all that lies 
in you, and shall be truly penitent, no 
matter how often you shall come to 
me for pardon and grace, "As I live," 
saith the Lord, " who will not the death 
of a sinner, but rather that he be con- 
verted and live, 1 I will not remember 
his sins any more, but they shall all be 
forgiven him." " For I will forgive their 
iniquity, and I will remember their sin 
no more. ,, 2 

1 Ezek. 18 : 22, 23. 2 Jer. 31 : 34. 



342 The Oblation of Christ 

CHAPTER VII 

Of the Oblation of Christ on the Cross, 
and of Resignation of Ourselves 

:F my own will did I offer up myself 
ffjjj unto God the Father for your sins. 1 
My hands were stretched forth on 
the cross, and my body laid bare, so that 
nothing remained in me that was not 
wholly turned into a sacrifice. 

You ought also in a like manner to offer 
yourself willingly unto me in the holy 
communion, as a pure and sacred offer- 
ing, with all your strength and affections, 
and to the utmost of your inward facul- 
ties. What do I require of you more, 
than that you study to resign yourself en- 
tirely unto me ? Whatever you give be- 
sides yourself is of no value in my sight, 
for I seek not your gifts, but you. 2 

2. As it would not satisfy you to have 
all things whatever, without me ; so 
neither can it please me, whatever you 
give, if you do not give yourself. 

1 Isa. 53 : 5 ; Heb. 9 : 20. 2 Prov. 23 : 26. 






The Oblation of Christ 345 

Offer up yourself unto me, and give 
yourself wholly for God, and your offer- 
ing shall be acceptable. 

Behold I offered myself wholly up to 
my Father for you, and gave my whole 
body and blood for your food, that I 
might be wholly yours, and that you 
might continue mine to the end. 

But if you abide in yourself, and do 
not offer up yourself freely unto my 
will, your offering is not entire, and 
there will not be perfect union between 
us. Therefore a free offering of your- 
self into the hands of God ought to go 
before all your actions, if you desire to 
obtai'n liberty and grace. 

It is because of this that so few be- 
come inwardly free and enlightened, 
for they are unwilling wholly to deny 
themselves. 

My sentence stands sure, " Unless a 
man forsake all, he cannot be my disci- 
ple. M1 If you therefore desire to be my 
disciple, offer up yourself unto me with 
your whole heart. 

1 Luke 14 : 33. 



344 We Outfit to Offer Ours 

CHAPTER VIII 

That We Ought to Offer Up (Ditfsel 
arid All that is Ours unto God, 
anJ to I .-111 






[ LL things tii u are in heaven and In 
eabth arti thine, O Lord* 1 

Sire to Offer up myself unto 

. and tP continue 
thine 

I, m the simplicity of m; 

I offer myself unto thee this day, in 
bumble submission, 

perpetual praise, and to be thy servant 

Receive thou me, with this holy offer- 
ing of thy precious body; which offering 
I malce to thefc this day in the presei 
of invisibly attending angels ; and may 

this be for n and the good of all 

thy people. 

2. I offer unto thee, O Lord, all my 
sins and offenses, which I have com- 
mitted before thee, from the day in 

1 Ps. 24 : i. 



We Ought to Offer Ourselves 345 

which I first could sin, to this hour. 
I offer them upon thy merciful altar, 
that thou mayest consume and burn 
them all with the fire of thy love ; that 
thou mayest wash out all the stains 
of my sins. 

Cleanse my conscience from all of- 
fenses, and restore again to me thy 
grace which I have lost by sin, forgiving 
me all my offenses, and receiving me 
mercifully to the kiss of peace. 

3. What can I do for my sins, 1 ex- 
cept humbly confess and bewail them, 
and unceasingly entreat thy favor and 
propitiation ? 

I beseech thee, hear me graciously, 
when I stand before thee, my God. 

All my sins are very displeasing unto 
me. 1 will never commit them any 
more ; but I grieve, and will grieve for 
them as long as I live, and am resolved 
to repent and to make restitution to the 
utmost of my power. 

Forgive me, O God, forgive me my 
sins for the sake of thy holy name ; 

1 Ps. 32 : 5. 



346 We Ought to Offer Ourselves 

save thou my soul which thou hast re- 
deemed with thy most precious blood. 

Behold, 1 commit myself unto thy 
mercy, and resign myself into thy hand. 
Deal with me not according to my 
wickedness and iniquity, but according 
to thy goodness. 

4. I offer up also unto thee all what- 
ever is good in me, although it be very 
small and imperfect, that thou mayest 
improve and sanctify it. Make it grate- 
ful and acceptable unto thee, and always 
perfect it more and more ; and bring me 
also, who am a slothful and unprofitable 
creature, to a good and blessed end. 

5. 1 offer up also unto thee all the 
pious desires of devout persons, the 
necessities of parents, friends, brethren, 
sisters, and of all those that are dear 
unto me, and who for thy love, have 
done good either to myself or to others. 
I offer up also all who have desired of 
me to pray for them and theirs. 

Grant that all may receive the help 
of thy grace, the aid of thy consolation, 
protection from dangers, deliverance 



We Ought to Offer Ourselves 347 

from pain ; that they being freed from 
all evils, may return abundant thanks- 
givings with joy unto thee. May we 
enter into thy gates with thanksgiving 
and into thy courts with praise. 

6. I offer up also unto thee my prayers 
and intercessions for those especially 
who have in anything wronged, grieved, 
or slandered me, or have done me any 
damage or displeasure. 

I pray also for all those, whom I have 
at anytime vexed, troubled, grieved, and 
scandalized by words or deeds, know- 
ingly or in ignorance ; that it may 
please thee to forgive us all our sins 
and offenses, one against another. 

Take away from our hearts, O Lord, 
all suspiciousness, indignation, anger, 
and contention, and whatever may hurt 
charity, and lessen brotherly love. 

Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on 
those who crave thy mercy, give grace 
unto them that stand in need of it, and 
make us such that we may be counted 
worthy to enjoy thy grace and go for- 
ward to life eternal. Amen. 



348 The Communion not to be Forborne 

CHAPTER IX 

That the Holy Communion is not Lightly 
to be Forborne 

J^FOU ought to have recourse often to 
/ - the fountain of grace and of divine 

~v mercy, to the fountain of goodness 
and of all purity ; that you may be healed 
of your sins and passions, and be made 
stronger and more vigilant against all the 
temptations and deceits of the devil. 

The enemy, knowing what exceeding 
great profit and restoring power come 
by the holy communion, tries by all 
means and occasions to draw away and 
hinder faithful and devout persons from 
partaking thereof. 

2. Thus it happens that some persons, 
when they are preparing to fit themselves 
for holy communion, suffer worse than 
before from the suggestions of Satan. 

That wicked spirit himself (as it is 
written in Job) comes among the sons 
of God, 1 to trouble them according to 

1 Job i : 6. 



The Communion not to be Forborne 349 

his usual malice, or to make them over- 
fearful and perplexed ; that he may thus 
diminish their affections, or by direct 
assaults take away their faith, to the 
end that he may prevail on them, if pos- 
sible, either to forbear altogether from 
communicating, or at least to come with 
lukewarmness. 

But no heed at all should be paid to 
his crafty and fanciful suggestions, be 
they never so filthy and hideous, but 
all such vain imaginations are to be 
turned back upon his own head. 

You must despise him and laugh him 
to scorn, nor dare to omit the holy com- 
munion on account of his assaults, or for 
the troubles which he raises within you. 

3. Often also a too great anxiety to 
attain a certain height of devotion, and 
a kind of anxiety about the confession of 
sins, hinders you. 

Follow herein the counsel of the wise, 1 
and lay aside all anxiety and fear ; for 
it hinders the grace of God, and over- 
throws the devotion of the mind. 

1 Prov. 13. 



350 The Communion not to be Forborne 

Do not omit the communion because of 
every small vexation and trouble, but 
rather proceed at once to confess your 
sin, and cheerfully forgive others what- 
ever offenses they have done against 
you. And if you have offended any, 
humbly crave pardon, and God will read- 
ily forgive you. 1 

4. What help is it to you to delay 
long the confession of your sin, or to 
defer the communion ? 

Make yourself thoroughly clean as soon 
as possible. Spit out the poison with all 
speed, make haste to apply this sovereign 
remedy, and you shall find it much better 
with you than if you long defer it. 

If you omit it to-day for one cause, per- 
haps to-morrow another cause of greater 
force may occur to you ; so you may be 
hindered for a long time from communion, 
and grow more and more unfit. 

Shake off from yourself as quickly as 
ever you can, all present heaviness and 
sloth. For it is of no use to continue 
long in disquietness, or to be going on 

1 Matt. 6 : 14. 



The Communion not to be Forborne 351 

long with a disturbed conscience, thus 
bringing up impediments every day to 
separate yourself from this divine serv- 
ice. Yea, it is very hurtful to defer the 
communion long, for it usually brings on 
heavy spiritual drowsiness. 

Alas, some lukewarm, undisciplined 
persons willingly delay confessing their 
sins, and defer the communion, lest they 
should be compelled to keep a stricter 
watch over themselves. 

5. Oh, how poor and mean is their love, 
how weak their devotion, when they so 
easily put off the communion ! 

How happy is he and how acceptable 
to God, who so orders his life, and keeps 
his conscience in such purity that he is 
prepared and well disposed to partake of 
communion even every day, if it were 
in his power, and if it might be done 
without being seen of men. 

If a person sometimes abstains from 
the communion out of humility, or by 
reason of some lawful cause preventing 
him, he is to be commended so far as it 
arises from a feeling of reverence. 



352 The Communion not to be Forborne 

But if a spiritual drowsiness has crept 
over him, he must bestir himself and the 
Lord will assist his desire, because of 
his good will thereto, which is what God 
chiefly respects. 

6. But when any lawful hindrance does 
happen, he will still always have a good 
will, and a pious intention to partake of 
communion, and so he shall not lose the 
fruit of this sacrament. 

For any devout person may profitably 
draw near to Christ every day and every 
hour without hindrance, in spiritual com- 
munion. 

And yet on certain days, and at ap- 
pointed times, he ought to receive sacra- 
mentally, with affectionate reverence, 
the body and blood of his Redeemer, 
and seek the honor and glory of God 
rather than his own comfort. 1 

For he communes mystically, and is 
invisibly refreshed, as often as he de- 
voutly calls to mind the mystery of the 
incarnation and the passion of Christ, 
and is inflamed with the love of him. 

1 Cor. ii. 



One Ought to Prepare Himself 353 

7. He who does not prepare himself, 
except only when a festival draws near, 
or when custom compels him to do so, 
shall too often be unprepared. 

Do not be too slow nor yet too hurried 
in celebrating, but keep the usual man- 
ner of those with whom you live. 

You ought not to be tedious and trou- 
blesome to others, but to observe the 
received custom ; according to the rule 
of our fathers ; and to yield yourself up 
to the profiting of others, rather than to 
you** own devotion or feelings 

CHAPTER X 

That He Who is About to Communicate 
with Christ Ought to Prepare Him- 
self with Great Diligence 

Jf AM the lover of all purity and the* 
ft giver of all sanctity. 
^ I seek a pure heart, and there is 
the place of my rest. 1 

Make ready for me a large upper room 

1 Ps. 24 : 4 ; Matt. 5 : 8. 



354 One Ought to Prepare Himself 

furnished, 1 and I will keep the Passover 
with my disciples at your house. 

If you will have me come unto you, 
and remain with you, you must purge 
out the old leaven, 2 and make clean the 
habitation of your heart. 

Shut out the whole world, 8 and the 
whole throng of sins ; sit as it were like 
a sparrow alone upon the housetop, and 
think over your transgressions in the 
bitterness of your soul. 

For every one who loves will prepare 
the best and fairest place for his beloved ; 
for therein is shown the affection of him 
who entertains his beloved. 

2. Yet you must know, that the merit 
of no action of yours is able to make this 
preparation sufficient, even if you should 
prepare yourself for a whole year to- 
gether, and have nothing else in your 
mind. 

But it is out of my simple grace and 
favor that you are permitted to come to 
my table. It is as if a beggar were in- 

1 Mark 14 : 14, 15 ; Luke 22 : n, 12. 2 1 Cor. 5 : 7. 
3 Exod. 24 : iS. 



One Ought to Prepare Himself 355 

vited to a rich man's dinner, and he has 
no other return to make for his benefits, 
except to humble himself and give him 
thanks. 

Do what lies in you, and do it dili- 
gently ; not for the sake of custom, nor 
because of necessity ; but receive with 
fear and reverence and affection the 
body and blood of your beloved Saviour, 
when he is pleased to come unto you. I 
am he who has called you, I have com- 
manded it to be done, and I will supply 
what is wanting in you ; come you and 
receive me. 

3. When I bestow on you the grace of 
devotion, give thanks to your God ; not 
because you are worthy, but because I 
have had mercy on you. 

If you do not have it, but rather feel 
yourself dry, be instant in prayer, sigh 
and knock, and do not give over until 
you have received some crumb or drop 
of saving grace. 

You have need of me but I have no 
need of you. Neither do you come to 
sanctify me, but I come to sanctify and 



356 One Ought to Prepare Himself 

make you holy. You come that you 
may be sanctified by me, and united 
unto me, that you may receive new 
grace, and be stirred up anew to im- 
provement of life. Do not neglect this 
grace, but prepare with all diligence 
your heart, and receive your beloved 
into your soul. 

4. But you ought not only to prepare 
yourself to devotion before communion, 
but you should carefully preserve your- 
self therein, after you have received this 
sacrament. 

Nor is a careful guard of yourself 
required less afterward, than is devout 
preparation before. 

For a good guard afterward is the best 
preparation for again obtaining a greater 
grace. 

For if a person gives up himself at 
once too much to outward consolations, 
he is thereby made more indisposed to 
devotion. 

Beware of much talk, 1 remain in some 
secret place and enjoy your God ; for 

1 Prov. 10 : 19. 



Union with Christ 357 

you have Him whom all the world can- 
not take from you. 

I am he to whom you ought to give 
up yourself wholly* so that you may 
now live the rest of your time, not in 
yourself, but in me, and be free from all 
anxious care. 



CHAPTER XI 

That the Devout Soul Ought with the 

Whole Heart to Seek Union with 

Christ in this Sacrament 

^OW shall I obtain this favor, O 
Lord, so as to find thee alone and 
by thyself, to open unto thee my 
whole heart, and to enjoy thee even as 
my soul desireth ? so that henceforth 
none may look upon me, nor any crea- 
ture move me, nor have regard to me : 
but that thou alone mayest speak unto 
me, and I to thee, as the beloved is wont 
to speak to his beloved, and a friend to 
banquet with his friend. 1 

1 Exod. 33 : 11 ; Cant. 8 : 2. 



358 Union with Christ 

This I beg, this I long for, that I may 
be wholly united unto thee, and may 
withdraw my heart from all created 
things, and may learn more and more 
through the means of this sacred com- 
munion, and the often celebrating there- 
of, to relish heaven and heavenly and 
eternal things. 

Ah, Lord God, when shall I be wholly 
united to thee, wholly absorbed by 
thee, and become altogether forgetful 
of myself ? 

"Thou in me, and I in thee;" 1 so 
also grant that we may both continue 
together in one. 

2. Truly, thou art my beloved, the 
choicest among thousands, 2 in whom my 
soul is well pleased to dwell all the days 
of her life. 

Truly, thou art my peacemaker, in 
whom is highest peace and true rest, 
and without whom is labor and sorrow 
and infinite misery. 

Truly, thou art a God that hidest thy- 
self, 3 and thy counsel is not with the 

1 John 15:4. 2 Cant. 5 : 10. 8 Isa. 45 : x 5« 



Union with Christ 359 

wicked, but thy speech is with the hum- 
ble and simple of heart. 1 

Oh, how sweet is thy spirit, O Lord, 
who in order that thou mightest show 
forth thy sweetness toward thy children, 
dost vouchsafe to feed them with the 
bread which is full of all sweetness, even 
that which cometh down from heaven. 2 

Surely there is no other nation so 
great, 3 that has God so nigh unto them, 
as thou our God art present to all thy 
faithful ones, unto whom thou bestowest 
thyself for their daily comfort and for the 
raising up of their hearts to heaven. 

3. For what other nation is there of 
so high renown as the Christian people ? 
Or what creature is there under heaven 
so beloved as the devout soul, into which 
our God himself entereth, to nourish it 
with himself ? 

Oh, unspeakable grace ! Oh, immeas- 
urable love specially bestowed on man I 

But what return shall I make to the 
Lord for this grace, 4 and for charity so 

1 Prov. 3 : 34. 2 Wisd. 16 : 20, 21. 

3 Deut. 4:7. 4 Ps. 116 : 12. 



360 Desire of Devout Persons 

unparalleled ? There is nothing that I am 
able to present more acceptably than to 
offer my heart wholly to my God. 

Then, when my soul shall be perfectly 
united unto God, shall all my inward 
parts rejoice. Then will he say unto 
me, '■ If you are willing to be with me, 
I am willing to be with you." 

And I will answer him, "Vouchsafe, 
O Lord, to remain with me, for I will 
gladly be with thee. 

"This is my whole desire, that my 
heart be united unto thee." 



CHAPTER XII 






Of the Fervent Desire of Some Devout 

Persons to Receive the Body 

and Blood of Christ 

J^|H, how great is the abundance of thy 
I goodness, O Lord, which thou hast 
^sp* laid up for them that fear thee ! * 

When I call to mind some devout per- 
sons, who approach to this thy sacra- 

1 Ps. 31 : 19. 



Desire of Devout Persons 361 

ment, O Lord, with the greatest devo- 
tion and affection, I am often confounded 
and blush within myself, because 1 come 
with such lukewarmness, yea, coldness, 
to thine altar and the table of sacred 
communion. 

I grieve that I remain so dry, and with- 
out hearty affection ; and that I am not 
wholly inflamed in thy presence, O my 
God, and not so earnestly drawn and 
affected as many devout persons have 
been. 

For there have been some who be- 
cause of a vehement desire for the holy 
communion, and their strong affection of 
heart could not restrain themselves from 
weeping. And these earnestly longed 
after thee with desire, both of soul and 
body, O God, the fountain of life; and 
they were not otherwise able to allay or 
satisfy their hunger, except by receiving 
thy body and blood with all delight and 
spiritual eagerness. 

2. Oh, the truly ardent faith of such a 
clear argument as thy sacred presence ! 

For they whose heart burns so vehe- 



362 Desire of Devout Persons 

mently within them truly know their 
Lord in the breaking of bread, 1 while 
thou, O blessed Jesus, dost walk and 
converse with them. Such affection and 
devotion as this, such love and so vehe- 
ment fervency are too often far from me. 

Be thou favorable unto me, O merci- 
ful Jesus, sweet and gracious Lord, and 
grant to me thy poor needy creature, to 
feel sometimes at least in this holy com- 
munion, if it be only a small portion of 
thy hearty love, that my faith may be- 
come more strong, my hope in thy good- 
ness may be increased, and that charity 
once perfectly kindled within me may, 
after the tasting of this heavenly manna, 
never decay. 

3. But thy mercy is able to grant me 
the grace which I long for, and to grant 
it in the day when it shall please thee 
to visit me most mercifully with the 
spirit of fervor. 

For although I do not burn with such 
vehement desire as those who are so 
specially devoted to thee ; yet through 

1 Luke 24 : 32, 35. 



The Grace of Devotion 36$ 

thy grace I long for this great and burn- 
ing desire, praying from the heart that I 
may participate with all such thy fer- 
vent lovers, and be numbered among 
them in their holy company. 

CHAPTER XIII 

That the Grace of Devotion is Obtained by 
Humility and Denial of Ourselves 

J|OU ought to seek the grace of devo- 
tion instantly, to ask for it ear- 
^i nestly, to wait for it in patience 
and confidence, to receive it with thank- 
fulness, to keep it humbly, to work with 
it diligently, and to commit the term and 
manner of this heavenly visitation to 
God, until it shall please him to come 
unto thee. 

You ought especially to humble your- 
self, when you feel inwardly little or no 
devotion ; and yet not to be too much 
dejected, nor to grieve deeply. 

God often gives in one short moment 
that which he has denied for a long 



364 The Grace of Devotion 

time ; he sometimes gives in the end, 
that which he deferred to grant in the 
beginning of your prayer. 

If grace were always instantly given, 
and came at the wish,, weak man could 
not well bear it. Therefore the grace of 
devotion is to be waited for with good 
hope and humble patience. Neverthe- 
less, when this grace is not given you, 
or when it is secretly taken away, you 
should lay it to yourself and to your sins. 

It is sometimes only a small matter 
which hinders and hides grace from us ; 
that is if anything can be called small, 
and not rather a weighty matter, which 
hinders so great a good. But, whether 
it be great or small, if you remove it, 
and perfectly overcome it, you shall have 
your desire. 

2. For immediately, as soon as you 
give yourself to God from your whole 
heart, and seek not this nor that, accord- 
ing to your own pleasure or will, but 
settle yourself wholly in him, you shall 
find yourself united to him, and at peace ; 
for nothing can afford so sweet a relish, 



The Grace of Devotion 365 



nothing can be so delightful, as the good 
pleasure of the divine will. 

Whosoever, therefore, lifts up his in- 
tention to God, with a single heart, and 
keeps himself clear of all inordinate love 
or dislike of any created thing, he shall 
be the most fit to receive grace, and 
prepared for the gift of true devotion. 
For the Lord bestows his blessings 
where he finds the vessels empty. And 
the more perfectly a man forsakes these 
low things, and the more he dies to him- 
self through contempt of himself, the 
more speedily shall grace come, and 
shall enter in the more plentifully, and 
shall lift up the free heart higher. 

3. Then shall he see, and flow to- 
gether, and wonder, and his heart shall 
be enlarged 1 within him, because the 
hand of the Lord is with him, and he has 
put himself wholly into his hand, even 
for ever and ever. 

Behold, thus shall man be blest, who 
seeks God with his whole heart, who re- 
ceives not a soul in vain. This man in. 

1 Isa. 60 : 5. 



366 To Open Our Necessities 

receiving the holy eucharist, obtains the 
great favor of divine union ; because he 
does not look to his own devotion and 
comfort, but looks above all devotion and 
comfort to the honor and glory of God. 



CHAPTER XIV 

That We Ought to Lay Open Our Neces- 
sities to Christ f and to Crave 
His Grace 

I THOU most sweet and loving Lord, 
whom I now desire to receive with 
all devotion, thou knowest my in- 
firmities, and the necessities which I 
endure ; in how many sins and evils I 
am involved ; how often I am weighed 
down, tempted, disturbed, and defiled. 
Unto thee I come for remedy, and I 
entreat consolation and support of thee 
I speak to thee who knowest all things, 
to whom all my inward thoughts are 
open, and who alone canst perfectly 
comfort and help me. 

Thou knowest what good things I 



To Open Our Necessities 367 

most stand in need of, and how poor I 
am in all virtue. 

2. Behold, I stand poor and naked be- 
fore thee, calling for grace, and implor- 
ing mercy. Refresh thy hungry suppli- 
cant, inflame my coldness with the fire 
of the love, enlighten my blindness with 
the brightness of thy presence. 

Do thou turn all earthly things into 
bitterness for me, all things grievous 
and contrary into patience, all low and 
created things into contempt and obliv- 
ion. Lift up my heart to thee in heaven, 
and do not send me away to wander over 
the earth. Be thou alone sweet unto 
me from henceforth forevermore ; for 
thou alone art my meat and drink, my 
love and my joy, my sweetness and all 
my good. 

3. Oh, that thou wouldest wholly in- 
flame, burn, and conform me unto thy- 
self with thy presence ; in order that I 
might be made one spirit with thee, 1 
through the grace of inward union, and 
through the meltings of ardent love ! 

1 Cor. 6 : 17. 



368 Desire to Receive Christ 

Do not suffer me to go away hungry 
and dry from thee, but deal mercifully 
with me, as thou hast often dealt won- 
derfully with thy saints. 

What wonder is it if I should be wholly 
inflamed by thee, and fail, and come t 
nothing from myself, since thou art 
fire alway burning and never decaying 
a love purifying the heart and enlighten- 
ing the understanding. 



! 



CHAPTER XV 

Of Fervent Love and Vehement Desire to 
Receive Christ 

;ITH deep devotion and ardent 
love, with all affection and 
fervor of heart, I desire to re- 
ceive thee, O Lord, as many saints and 
devout persons have desired thee, when 
they were partakers of thy holy com- 
munion ; and who in holiness of life 
were most pleasing to thee, and who 
also were most fervent in devotion. 
O my God, my everlasting love, my 




Desire to Receive Christ 369 

whole good, my never-ending happiness, 
I desire to receive thee with the most 
earnest affection, that any of the saints 
ever had, or could feel toward thee. 

2. And although I am unworthy to 
entertain all those feelings of devotion, 
I still offer the whole affection of my 
heart unto thee, as if I alone had all 
these most ardent longings. Yea, and 
all that a dutiful mind can conceive and 
desire I offer and present unto thee with 
the deepest reverence and most inward 
affection. I desire to reserve nothing to 
myself, but freely and most cheerfully 
to sacrifice myself and all that is mine 
unto thee. 

O Lord my God, my Creator and my 
Redeemer, I do desire to receive thee 
this day with such affection, reverence, 
praise, and honor, with such gratitude, 
worthiness, and love, with such faith, 
hope, and purity, as the virgin Mary, re- 
ceived and desired thee, when she hum- 
bly and devoutly answered to the angel 
who declared unto her glad tidings of 
the mystery of the incarnation, " Behold 



370 Desire to Receive Christ 

the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done 
unto me according to thy word." 1 

3. And as thy blessed forerunner, 
John Baptist, the most excellent among 
the saints, rejoicing in thy presence, 
leaped for joy of the Holy Ghost whilst 
he was yet unborn ; : and afterward 
Ing Jesus walking among men, humbled 
himself very greatly, nnJ said with de- 
vout affection, '* The friend of the bride- 
groom that standeth and hcareth him, 
rejoiceth greatly because of the voice of 
the bridegroom ";■ in like manner I also 
wish to be inflamed with great and holy 
desires, to offer myself up to thee from 
my whole heart. 

Wherefore 1 also offer and present 
unto thee the triumphant joys, the fer- 
vent affections, the e , the super- 
natural illuminations, and celestial vi- 
sions of all devout hearts, with all the 
virtues and praises that have been ever 
celebrated by all creatures in heaven, 
and in earth, for myself, and for all such 
as are commended to me in prayer, that 

1 Luke 1 : 38. 2 Luke i : 44. 3 John 3 : 2q. 



Desirs to Receive Christ 371 

thou mayest worthily be praised and for- 
ever glorified by all of them. 

4. Receive, O Lord my God, my 
wishes and desires of giving thee infinite 
praise, and blessing that hath no bounds, 
which according to the measure of thine 
ineffable greatness, are most justly due 
unto thee. 

These praises I render unto thee, and 
long to render them every day and every 
moment. And with all entreaty and af- 
fectionateness I do invite and beseech 
all heavenly spirits, and all thy faithful 
servants, to join with me in rendering 
thanks and praises unto thee. 

5. Let all people, nations, and lan- 
guages praise thee, 1 and with highest 
joy and ardent devotion magnify thy 
holy and precious name. 

And let all who reverently and de- 
voutly celebrate thy most high sacra- 
ment, and who receive it with full faith, 
be accounted worthy to find grace and 
mercy at thy hand, and pray with hum- 
ble supplication in behalf of me a sinner. 

1 Ps. 117. 



372 Desire to Receive Christ 

And when they shall have attained to 
their desired devotion, and joyful union 
with thee, and shall have departed from 
thy holy heavenly table, well comforted 
and marvelously refreshed, O let them 
vouchsafe to remember my poor soul. 

6. Go forward therefore with simple 
and undoubting faith, and approach this 
holy sacrament with the reverence of a 
suppliant ; and whatever you are not 
able to understand, commend without 
care to Almighty God. 

God does not deceive you. He is de- 
ceived who trusts too much to himself. 

God walks with the simple, 1 reveals 
himself to the humble, opens the sense to 
pure minds, and hides grace from the 
curious and proud. 

Human reason is feeble and may 
be deceived, but true faith cannot be 
deceived. 

All reason and natural search ought to 
follow faith, not to go before it, nor to 
break in upon it. 

1 Ps. 19 : 7 ; 119 : 130; Matt. 11 : 29. 



Desire to Receive Christ 373 

For faith and love do specially take 
the lead here, and work in hidden ways, 
in this most holy, most supremely ex- 
cellent sacrament. 

God, w.ho is eternal, and incompre- 
hensible, and of infinite power, does 
great and unsearchable things in heaven 
and in earth, and there is no tracing out 
of his marvelous work. 

If the works of God were such that 
they could be easily comprehended by 
human reason, they could not be justly 
called marvelous or unspeakable. 




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